PAGE UPDATED:
August 16, 2015
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These
are railroad photos taken
at various places in Arkansas and around the country, mostly in and
around Little Rock. Each
set of photos will have its' own separate link...just click the links
below to view the photos and captions. There are no ads of any kind on
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putting these web pages online in 2001, but I've scanned my older
photos and sometimes post these older ones on this site as well. My
camera has been updated several
times over the years, so remember that the best and highest resolution
photos are at the bottom of the page - the
further down you go, the
better the photo quality.
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(Ken Ziegenbein photos)
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS and
WEBSITES OF VARIOUS RAILROADS
Latest photos at
bottom
of page (to jump to the
bottom of page, just press
the "End" key or press "Ctrl End" in either IE or Firefox or any other
browser).
2001
OCTOBER
14, 2001(Union Station Little Rock. UP 9659, 6211, 9252, 1539, 9418)
OCTOBER
21, 2001(Union Station Little Rock. UP 4465, 1540, 4542, 8182(?) ***
BNSF
4713 in bright red Santa Fe Warbonnet colors)
DECEMBER
9, 2001
(Union Station - 11 trains between 7:30 and noon, 9 photographed,
including UP 4699, 9795, 9536, 3782 *** others)
OLYMPIC
TORCH
RELAY TRAIN PHOTOS IN ARKANSAS, DECEMBER 13, 2001 - Small
digital photos and a one-minute 1.4mb MPEG movie taken of the Union
Pacific Olympic Torch Train, Thursday, December 13, 2001. The shots
were taken at Gurdon, Arkadelphia and Donaldson, Arkansas.
DECEMBER
24, 2001(Union Station just before UP freights stopped running
for Christmas)
DECEMBER
28, 2001
- December 28, 2001 was the last day Union Pacific owned this bridge
across the Arkansas River between Little Rock and North Little Rock
(the Junction Bridge). This was a former Missouri Pacific line. Now UP
only has the Baring Cross bridge to operate on, although they haven't
had but one or two trains a month crossing the Junction Bridge in
recent months. UP gave the bridge to the City of Little Rock after the
STB approved the abandonment of it. The City takes it over officially
December 29, according to latest estimates. It is to be made into a
pedestrian bridge with an elevator in the middle to get over the span
lift, which will remain permanently open due to barge traffic. You can
see parts of the track going to the bridge taken from the River Market
in Little Rock as well as the Alltel Arena across the river in North
Little Rock. One scene has a kiddie train ride in the foreground. Also
on this page are a couple of photos of trains passing Union Station in
Little Rock, one having a CNW Operation Lifesaver unit as the third
unit. All photos taken December 28, 2001
DECEMBER
30, 2001
- December 30, 2001 at Union Station, Little Rock. There were many
different roadnames on locomotives today, including Union Pacific,
Cotton Belt, CNW, NS, CSX, BNSF, D&RG and Conrail. It was cold
with
water frozen in small ponds again, and clouds increased during the
morning. Photos were taken between 908 a.m. and 1055 a.m. with a total
of six trains. The BNSF trackage rights train was unusually long
(didn't count the cars, but must have been over a mile and a quarter
long).
* * * * * *
* * * *
2002
JANUARY
13, 2002
- Trainwatching, Union Station, Little Rock. Included today is a
bright red F-Unit of the Idaho Northern between two black NS units,
northbound.
LITTLE
ROCK &
WESTERN PHOTOS - Below are two days worth of
photographing the
Little Rock & Western Railroad, January 9 and January 14, 2002.
This line runs from a junction with Union Pacific in Little Rock
westward to Perry, Arkansas (it's headquarters) then continues west to
Danville, Arkansas, the home of Wayne Farms, with it supplies much of
the grain used to feed chickens. The line is the old Rock Island
Choctaw route that ran from Memphis to Tucumcari, New Mexico through
Little Rock and Oklahoma City. The Little Rock & Western (LRWN)
took over operations of the line from Little Rock to Danville, Arkansas
in the mid 1980s. The old Rock west of Danville was taken up in 1985 or
so.
OUACHITA
RAILROAD
PHOTOS - The following were taken Tuesday, January
22, 2002 by
Ken Ziegenbein. They show a working freight on the Ouachita Railroad
(OUCH) between El Dorado, Arkansas and Lillie, Louisiana. The
OUCH runs on the former Rock Island between these two cities. According
to Mike Robbins, President of OUCH, the line owns the following:
Locomotives: OUCH 1151 (GMD1) on loan to CQPA;
OUCH 1159
(GMD1); and OUCH 63 (SW7, former EACH); Rolling Stock: 75 OUCH single
door boxcars; 50 DR Centerbeams for use at Georgia Pacific at Anthony
Forest. They run on a line (former Rock Island) 25 miles long between
El Dorado, Arkansas and Lillie, Louisiana.
Customers: Davison Petroleum (El Dorado); Anthony
Forest
(El Dorado - lumber); Georgia Pacific (Catesville - lumber); Great
Lakes Chemical (Catesville - chemicals); and Willamette Industries
(Lillie, Louisiana - particle board)
JANUARY
24, 2002
- January 24, 2002 at Union Station. Little Rock, showing one freight
in the cold rain. I always thought railroads signify all-weather
transportation and scenes like this "prove" it.
The photos were taken about 3 p.m. CST by Ken Ziegenbein.
FEBRUARY
3, 2002
- Sunday, February 3, 2002 at Union Station in Little Rock . There were
lots of trains today. Some had to stop to let the yard area in North
Little Rock clear out. An engineer told us that there were 11
northbound trains stacked up behind him as of 1030 a.m. (I guess the
recession is over). As information, Amtrak President Warrington
announced yesterday, February 2, that Amtrak would discontinue all
long-distance passenger service October 1, 2002 unless Congress gave it
$1.2 billion.
FEBRUARY
6, 2002
- SNOW DAY, Wednesday, February 6, 2002 at Little Rock's
Union
Station. It was 32 degrees with a dark sky and light freezing mist, but
the streets were ok so I ventured out. There were nine trains between
1130 am and 130 pm. It was a dark day with backlight problems, so I've
enhanced some of the photos so you can see the trains better. There's
also a shot taken inside the Little Rock Amtrak station, which has some
of the original benches taken from Memphis Central Station back in the
1980s or early 90s. Also shown is a switch heater (fire) under the
heavily used switch between the two main tracks just before going
across the Baring Cross bridge.
FEBRUARY
10, 2002
- SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2002 - Once again at Little Rock's Union
Station. Of special interest today is the photo of
UP SD-70
#4724 with the new pollution control (Tier One). Robin Thomas, who was
also taking pictures, said it was probably a 2002 model.
FEBRUARY
16 and
17 2002 - These were taken
Saturday, February 16
and Sunday, February 17, 2002 at Union Station in Little Rock. Sunny
skies. On Saturday, February 16, there were fifteen trains between
1141 am and 421 pm with a half hour missed due to lunch. Robin Thomas
was there from 730 am till 1 pm and he had 18 trains during that time.
Total number of trains, not counting the overlapping counts between me
and Robin, was 27 from 730 am to 421 pm.
On the February 17 outing, there was a unit
ballast/rock
"dump" train with the drawbar connections. Also I got a rare red Katy
gondola on which you can barely see the MKT white writing.
FEBRUARY
19, 2002
- FEBRUARY 19, 2002 at Union Station in Little Rock, showing
a
LRWN freight waiting on a UP coal train and the southbound UP train
with an SP unit in the lead. It was a stormy day.
FEBRUARY
21, 2002
- Here are a few photos taken at Ashdown, Arkansas of the KCS and
Kiamichi Feb 21, 2002.
OLD
"DROVER"
CAR
IN ASHDOWN, ARKANSAS - Clayton Castleman, 110
Little River 68,
Ashdown AR 71822 wants to know the origins of this 9-window "drover"
car near Ashdown, Arkansas. He nas moved this caboose (in the summer of
2003) and moved it next to the refurbished GN&A (aka. Memphis,
Paris and Gulf) depot in downtown Ashdown soon. (The KCS now owns the
former GNA line). For an updated photo of this caboose as of December
11, 2003, see HERE.
As you can see, the caboose,coach,baggage car was
red at
one time... is it a former Cotton Belt caboose. He said it was built
between 1890 and 1920. It is wooden and has been at this location near
Ashdown for 35 years, the last 15 years being vacant. It was a bait
shop until 1987 or so.
FEBRUARY
28, 2002
- FEBRUARY 28, 2002. Taken at Union Station, Little Rock. One shot has
four locomotive roadnames. Also shows signs on the Amtrak station door,
the first day the Amtrak ticket office was closed due to the major
cutbacks in staffing...from 6 down to 1. It will only be open 11 p.m.
till 8 a.m. or so each day.
MARCH
3, 2002- MARCH 3, 2002. Today Robin Thomas, John Jones and myself
went on
a 12-hour train photographing trip, starting from Little Rock, east to
Brinkley, up the UP's (ne. Cotton Belt) Jonesboro Sub, west
from
Jonesboro on the BNSF (ne. Frisco) to Hoxie, then south from
Hoxie on UP's (ne. Missouri Pacific) Hoxie Sub. Included are scenes of
the being-remodeled Brinkley Rock Island/Cotton Belt depot and a good
shot of two UP trains going over the Little Red River bridge near
Judsonia, plus several towns in between. Also shown are photos of UP's
new Remote Control unit 100 at Searcy.
It was one of, if not THE coldest day of the
winter with
temperatures starting out in the middle teens and staying in the 20s
all day with a strong northerly wind of 15 to 25 mph with higher gusts.
My fingers kept getting numb. It was clear, though. These are all the
usual small-size photos taken by my Sony Cyber-Shot. I have much higher
resolution photos of most of the scenes if you'd ever want one.
MARCH
10, 2002
- SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 2002. Scenes today show track
work and a
couple of cars still turned over when a few cars of a northbound (I
believe) UP freight derailed predawn last Friday morning,
March
8, at the north switch in front of Union Station in Little Rock.
Apparently, the gondolas were carrying sand. The Amtrak switch to
Amtrak's siding was damaged and removed and hadn't been replaced as of
Sunday morning. I was waiting on the CSX 769 SD70 MAC unit, but traffic
was so backed up that it was still in Texas after dark Sunday after
leaving Arlington, Texas at 3 Sunday morning. It finally went through
Little Rock about 10 Monday morning, but I was working and missed it.
MARCH
19, 2002
- I made a quick trip to Mineola, Texas via the Texas Eagle on Tuesday,
March 19, 2002 and here are a few scenes. The highlight of
the
trip was the school tour of 84 Amish/Mennonite kids and their teachers.
They rode from Texarkana to Longview and had a ball. Dark clouds came
over Mineola late in the day and I got some interesting photos.
MARCH 28, 2002 TRIP TO MINEOLA, TX-
My friend Debbie and her son Jakob took a train ride with me to
Mineola, Texas on Amtrak's Texas Eagle. On Thursday, March 28, 2002, I
went with Debbie and Jakob on their first train ride. We went from
Little Rock to Mineola, Texas, which is a small town about 2 hours east
of Dallas. Mineola has a lot of antique shops and places to eat. We
left Little Rock about 7 a.m. and got to Mineola about 121 p.m. then
returned the same day, leaving Mineola at 650 p.m., getting back to
Little Rock at 110 a.m. Good Friday morning.
APRIL
3, 2002
- Went to the Amtrak station shortly after 11 p.m. at Little Rock,
Wednesday, April 3, 2002 and saw THREE BNSF units lined up side by side
at Union Station, one apparently on the Little Rock & Western
line,
having backed onto that track. Before I could get my car stopped, the
one on the right (on the LRWN line) began to move, as can be seen in
the photo of the two units (note streak to right of engines). These
photos were taken using a handheld CyberShot camera with two second
exposure, so the shot of the two units plus the departing
freight
is blurry. I managed to get one flash picture of the two standing units
just before they departed.
APRIL
13, 2002
- Here are a couple of train photos taken in College Station, Cat
Spring and Sealy, Texas Saturday, April 13, 2002 plus a photo of a BNSF
train in Brenham and a UP train in Hearne, April 14 and some shots of
the Winsboro, Texas KCS restored depot. Included are a few shots of
bluebonnets. I had wanted to get a shot of a UP train through my
hometown of New Ulm, but by the time I heard the train come through, it
was too late and I had to chase it to Cat Spring, about 11 miles away.
I barely made it in time.
APRIL
20, 2002
- Here are some photos of the Branson Scenic Railway at the old
Missouri Pacific depot in Branson, Missouri, Saturday, April 20,. 2002.
The F-Unit is BSR #98, the other unit is BSR #99. The lone car is
RSRX8503 "Silver Chief." Note the photo of the F-Unit with the
horse-drawn buggy in the background. They were not operating. Does
anybody know if they will this year?
APRIL
27, 2002
- APRIL 27, 2002. The Arkansas Railroad Club had an excursion on the
Ouachita Railroad (OUCH) from El Dorado, Arkansas to Lillie, Louisiana
(about 25 miles) and return on Saturday, April 27, 2002 (on the former
Rock Island). The President of OUCH, Michael Robbins and OUCH employee
Bobby Jones ran the train for both our club and as a working freight
that Saturday. We had a caboose and a flatcar with chairs firmly seated
to ride on. There were over 30 club members who rode this rare-mileage
excursion. Going to the Weyerhauser plant in Lilllie, we pulled 9
boxcars and coming back we hauled 10 mostly loaded cars behind us.
Speed was about 10 mph on the average, less on upgrades with one engine.
The scenery in the Arkansas and Louisiana
springtime was
gorgeous with lush greenery and swampy land both in south Arkansas and
northern Louisiana. We stopped at Junction City, on the state line
between Arkansas and Louisiana for lunch at a barbecue place. We left
El Dorado at 10 a.m. and returned by about 4 p.m. All had a
great
time.
At the bottom of the page are a few scenes I took
the day
before of the beautifully restored Rock Island depot at Bernice,
Louisiana, about 7 miles south of Lillie, where the old Rock Island
tracks had been taken up years ago. However, it is rumored (good rumor)
that this former abandoned Rock Island right of way will once again
have tracks laid down later this year between Lillie and Bernice
because of demand of businesses there. Let's hope this occurs and that
one day we may be able to ride all the way to Bernice.
APRIL
28, 2002
- APRIL 28, 2002 - Union Station, Little Rock photos. What
was
unusual today was a 4-unit lashup of Cotton Belt locomotives on one of
the trains.
MAY
5, 2002-
MAY 5, 2002 at Conway, Arkansas' huge Toad Suck "Daze". Over 100,000
people were estimated at this downtown Conway festival each day and
Union Pacific's Arkansas Subdivision runs right through the middle of
town. Here are a few photos of 3 trains coming through on Sunday, May
5. Operation Lifesaver manned all the crossings with uniformed people
that stopped anyone from crossing the tracks ahead of the trains, even
though all the crossings have crossing gates and bells.
The craft festival, with vendors from as far away
as
Indiana and New Mexico, is famous for its toad (frog) racing events
each day.
MAY
10, 2002
- MAY 9 & MAY 10, 2002 - Taken at Union Station, Little Rock.
What's sort of exciting to me is UP Flatcar #262002 with a load was on
one of the trains on May 10. That is the car we rode on back on April
27 when the Arkansas Railroad Club ran the excursion on the Ouachita
Railroad from El Dorado, Arkansas to Lillie, Louisiana and back over
the old Rock Island. I kept tracing the car just in case it would come
through someplace where I could catch a photo and today was the day.
See photos of this trip at: http://www.trainweather.com/apr27.html
This car went from the OUCH on UP down to
Alexandria,
Louisiana on May 7 where apparently it picked up a load of some sort.
From Alexandria it was scheduled to go to the CSXT interchange in
Valjct, Illinois via UP with the interchange forecast to take place on
May 11. I kept checking the trace and about noon on May 10, it had left
McGehee, Arkansas at 1047 a.m. I knew then that it would be coming
through Little Rock and Union Station sometimes during the day. At 1240
p.m. it was at Grady, Arkansas and left Pine Bluff at 1:12 p.m. That's
when I headed to Union Station in Little Rock (I figured it would take
about 2 hours or so from Pine Bluff to Little Rock baring any stops).
I settled down for what I though might be a few
hours,
since it had to go through Biddle Yard before coming past Union Station
and no telling what else the train had to pick up on the way. Well, at
304 p.m. I noticed the green light on the north main and knew another
northbound train was coming. UP3251 was on the lead and I noticed it
was a mixed train, but I thought it would be wild luck that a
train could make it from Pine Bluff to Union Station in less than 2
hours, but looking down the train, I noticed two bulkhead flat cars
about the middle of the train. Sure enough, the second flat was
UP262002.
I know this doesn't mean that much to most people,
but
it's really fun to know that a car you've been associated with miles
away is coming through on a train. I guess I'll keep tracing this car.
Oh, by the way, the car's destination is Westfield, Massachusetts!
Don't think we could have ridden it that far!
JUNE 9,
2002
- Here are a few shots taken at Union Station, Little Rock, Sunday June
9, 2002. I was the only one there today.
JUNE 21,
2002
- These photos were taken the week of June 19-21, 2002. I'll start with
the Brinkley, Arkansas photos of three trains in only 30 minutes. A few
others were taken in Alabama and Georgia.
JUNE 23,
2002
- JUNE 23, 2002 at Union Station in Little Rock. Roadnames today
include Rio Grande, Norfolk Southern, SP, BNSF and UP.
JUNE
29, 2002
(Plus other days. Includes LRWN plus Baseline Rd in Little
Rock and Union Station, plus a UP special June 30 and a rainbow)
JULY 4,
2002
(Some taken of the Baring Cross Bridge, plus red, white and blue unit
DWP5908 on July 11)
JULY 14,
2002
(Three UP flagged/winged units passing Union Station plus
red CP9012)
JULY 21,
2002
(Brenham, Texas and Union Station in Little Rock with rainbow and
sunset)
CLASSIC
RAIL
PHOTOS(These are photos I made in the 70s and
80s, including
lots of fallen flags, like the Katy)
RAIL
PHOTOS
IN THE MIDWEST, PLAINS AND MONTANA 2002
(Includes
DM&E,
Montana Rail Link, UP shops in Cheyenne, South Kansas and Oklahoma,
Amtrak's
Empire Builder through Montana. These will take a few minutes to
download
-I separated the pages with another link one time)
SEPTEMBER
9,
2002 (Some were taken in Newton, Kansas September
5, others
at Union Station in Little Rock September 9)
SEPTEMBER
22
& 29, 2002 (Union Station in Little
Rock...various
locomotives plus a Delaware & Hudson boxcar)
OCTOBER
6, 2002
(Union Station, my first BNSF trackage-rights coal train, Chessie
hopper, colorized UP sequence)
OCTOBER
14,
2002 (Reader Railroad in Reader, Arkansas after the
town became
unincorporated, plus a few Union Station photos)
OCTOBER
24,
2002 (Seven KATY gondolas on one train past Union
Station in
Little Rock, 6 red and 1 green)
NOVEMBER
10,
18 & 24, 2002 (Some Union Station, Little
Rock, some
Russellville, Arkansas. Includes a BNSF train on Amtrak siding)
DECEMBER
1,
2 &
3, 2002 (Some Union Station, including a bright
red, unfaded
BNSF
warbonnet, a Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Illinois locomotive near
Palestine, Texas, the Texas State Railroad, the Hearne, Texas depot,
plus finally a UP train going through New Ulm, Texas on Dec 3)
NORTH
ZULCH,
TEXAS - WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2002 - NORTH ZULCH,
TEXAS - A
dark, cold, rainy day in North Zulch, Texas - where the Rock
Island/Burlington Rockets used to zip through, if I remember correctly.
I rode one of these trains in the early 1960s. Now it's still a very
active BNSF line, but I didn't see any trains the half hour I was
there. I did get to photograph the railroad overpass across Highway 190
- it still says "Rock Island Lines - Burlington Lines."
DECEMBER
15,
2002 (Union Station, Little Rock. Also some scenes
of an
abandoned Rock Island weed-covered signal near the station on the old
Rock Sunbelt Line.
DECEMBER
21&29, 2002 (Some
taken Branson, Missouri from a lodge next to the Missouri &
Northern Arkansas tracks in downtown Branson. Others taken
at Union Station in Little Rock December 29, 2002)
*
* * * * * * * * * * *
2003
JANUARY 12, 2003
(Snow at Union
Station in Little Rock in the afternoon)
JANUARY
19,
2003 (Union Station including Wisconsin Central
#6604 and a
Detroit & Mackinac boxcar on a BNSF freight)
JANUARY
26,
2003 (Union Station, including a warbonnet in
original Santa Fe
lettering)
FEBRUARY
4,
2003 (Atlanta, Texas, plus CN unit passing Union
Station)
APRIL
29, 2003
(Sunset, BNSF, UP at Union Station Little Rock with Florida visitor Bob
Pickering.
MAY
3, 2003
- Conway, Arkansas annual Toad Suck Festival with 4 train passing
through the center of action.
MAY
5, 2003
- Included are two GE 's, a B30-7A and a B23-7M, on a southbound train.
MAY
10, 2003
- The South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad along with the Heart of the
Heartlands group ran a special roundtrip on Saturday May 10, 2003
between Winfield and Fredonia, Kansas. I was on board and
heard
that there were 150 passengers and about 20 volunteer crew on board.
The train left Winfield on time at 9 a.m., arriving in Fredonia 30
minutes early at 1230 p.m. It left Fredonia at 2 p.m., returning to
Winfield 5 minutes early at 555 p.m. - good old Santa Fe
running! There were many 'old' Santa Fe hands on board.
The line used was the former Santa Fe line between
the two
cities (the Fourth District of the Eastern Division). The train went
though the towns of New Salem, Cambridge, over Grand Summit (the
highest point in Kansas), Grenola, Moline, Elk Falls, Longton and
Fredonia. These were typical of small towns across America....with a
lot of abandoned buildings and railyards just outside the towns.
Fredonia and Winfield, though, appeared to be prospering. The
trip was 96 miles one way and we had some speed restrictions, highest
speed being 30-35 mph.
The ticket prices were only $30, which included a
'picnic
lunch' at a high school gym in Fredonia. This 'picnic lunch' turned out
to be a major barbecue buffet! And it all was included in the $30
ticket price! The Chamber of Commerce of Fredonia and others had
actually barbecued a hog the night before for the occasion, so we were
told.
Power/consist for the trip was FURX 1167, WAMX
8506, SEKR
non-powered RDC 9210 "Kaleigh Ann," SEKR non-powered RDC 9202 "Afton
Leigh,"and SEKR non-powered RDC 9203 "Fallyne Marie."- Consist was
reversed on the return trip with the engines running around the train
north of Fredonia.
For more information about the Heart of the
Heartlands
group, go to their website:
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pointe/8458
MAY
18, 2003
- Little Rock Streetcar construction/Rock Island Choctaw Passenger
station in Clinton Library complex construction/CN untes at
Union Station.
MAY 25,
2003
- Cat at Union Station/SP units/Work caboose on a mixed train! (by
Brian Smith)/May 24 NS units in new paint scheme (by Robin
Thomas)/few more recent shots by Brian Smith including MoPac red
caboose and UP's E-9's in NLR..
MAY
31,
JUNE 1,
2003 - The usual variety of motive power at Union
Station, plus
visitors
from Pennsylvania and Tennessee (Bart Jennings)
JUNE
8, 2003
- Most unique today was SOO 6055. All at Union Station.
JUNE
12-14,
2003 - BNSF in Brenham, Texas; KCS in Jefferson,
Texas; UP in
Texas; Amtrak in Jefferson, others
JUNE
15, 2003
- Union Station, some spring flowers with the trains, man and boy.
JUNE
22, 2003
- Amtrak 21, two hours late, plus some scenes taken from the north side
of the tracks.
JUNE
27-28,
2003 - UP NLR to Bald Knob, AR;UP Kingsville,
Robstown, Texas
FEBRUARY
1969 - One of the last Missouri Pacific Texas
Eagles to arrive
in Fort Worth at the T&P station.
UP WRECK NEW ULM, TEXAS JULY 22,
2003
- From New Ulm Enterprise newspaper. UP wreck east of New Ulm, Texas
Tuesday, July 22, 2003. This photo was also in the New Ulm Enterprise -
this one was in the Brenham Banner Press July 24. Another B&W
photo
in the New Ulm Enterprise is also included.
AUGUST
2, 2003 - Kansas & Oklahoma RR, McPherson,
Kansas
AUGUST
3,
2003 - GREEN RIVER, WYOMING views on Sunday, August
3, 2003.
AUGUST
4, 2003 - These were all taken Monday, August 4,
2004 at an
abandoned rest stop off Interstate 80, right before you cross the
Wyoming-Utah state line. I had almost given up waiting for a train, but
then I spotted an eastbound UP coal train on the upper, high
line. Just after I had taken that photo, I got back in the car to leave
when I saw an eastbound UP mixed freight in my side mirror on the lower
line. What resulted was a meeting of two UP trains in
mountainous terrain. Talk about luck. The time was about 930 a.m.
AUGUST 6, 2003
- Here are four
photos of part of the Idaho Northern & Pacific rare-mileage
trip
we'll be taking August 8. These were taken August 6, 2003 from Highway
55 on my way to McCall for the night. All scenes were north of
Horseshoe Bend. Included is a shot of the shortest railroad tunnel in
the world, which we'll be going through.
AUGUST
31, 2003
- SATURDAY, AUGUST 30 AND SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2003 at Union Station in
Little Rock..
SEPTEMBER
6,
2003 - On Saturday, September 6, 2003, the Arkansas
Railroad
Club had its annual picnic outing at member Peter Smykla, Jr's Paperton
Junction Southern Railway in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Following
are
some scenes of this outing and information on the railroad's rolling
stock. It was a beautiful, dry and clear day. There were no train
rides, just a get-together and picnic. To see other current and past
railroad photos, go to http://www.trainweather.com/sunday.html.
SEPTEMBER
7,
2003 - Union Station, Little Rock including engine
OSS101.
SEPTEMBER
14,
2003 - Union Station, Little Rock. Includes BNSF SF
Warbonnet
and
unique grafitti car.
SEPTEMBER
28,
2003 - Union Station in Little Rock with CSX in new
paint
scheme,
old SP logo, Montana Rail Link, BNSF, new ties.
OCTOBER
3-5,
2003 - Kansas & Oklahoma RR in Haven,
Kansas, BNSF speeding
through Burrton, Kansas, both at sunset.
OCTOBER
28, 2003 - Lucky shot of Sunset Limited crossing
Heights Blvd
in Houston, Texas plus Houston Union Station/Light Rail
NOVEMBER
2,
2003 - Southern 4610 in the famous Southern green
paint scheme,
Genesee & Wyoming 147, Sperry Rail 124, at Union Station,
Little
Rock.
NOVEMBER
9, 2003 - More photos of Little Rock Streetcar
construction.
NOVEMBER
16,
2003 - Three pure SSW and SP locomotives on trains
passing
Little Rock Union Station.
DECEMBER 6, 2003
- Eastbound UP
coal train at Sallisaw, Oklahoma, Saturday December 6, 2003 at 415 pm.
First train photo with new camera. Also one photo of the depot. The
original photos were 5 megapixels, but I always reduce them to 630
pixels wide on the webpage otherwise it would take months to download
:).
DECEMBER 11, 2003
- KCS Coal
train southbound through Ashdown, Arkansas at 441 pm Thursday, December
11, 2003. KCS #2008 was in the lead. Plus a shot of the
recently
moved (last summer) former SSW caboose/'Drover' car to the GNA depot in
Ashdown.
DECEMBER
11,
2003 - KCS Santa Train night photos, Ashdown,
Arkansas.
DECEMBER
21,
2003 - Union Station, Little Rock. Centerbeam flat
with load,
CNW unit.
DECEMBER
25, 2003 - A Christmas Texas Eagle at Little Rock
No. 22, on
time at 1159 pm.
DECEMBER
27,
2003 - TFM, NS and SP units today passing Union
Station.
DECEMBER
29, 2003 - Texas Eagle No. 21, 430 a.m., Little
Rock. On time.
*
* * * * * * * * * * *
2004
JANUARY
1,
2004 - Empty coal train on this first day of 2004.
JANUARY
3,
2004 - An unaltered SP unit and an empty coal train
past One
Track Mind Hobby shop.
JANUARY
9,
2004 - Sunset Limited on bridge in Bay Saint Louis,
MS plus
night shots of Bay St Louis depot.
JANUARY
11, 2004 - DELTA SOUTHERN #104 a couple of miles
north of
Transylvania, Louisiana, January 11, 2004. It was idle. One of the
grain cars was leaning to the right, but still on the rails.
This
line was once the route of the Missouri Pacific "Delta Eagle" back in
the 1940s. It is my understanding that the line still runs from
Tallulah, Louisiana to McGehee, Arkansas. Is this correct?
JANUARY
13,
2004 - Little Rock Western plus two SP units
passing Union
Station Little Rock.
JANUARY
18,
2004 - Union Station, including NS, IC, SP plus a
digital movie
(MPEG)
JANUARY 22, 2004
- The UP
Challenger, No. 3985, ran from St Louis to Bernie, Missouri today.
While it was supposed to be at Bernie at 3 p.m., it arrived about 6
p.m. due to trackwork and a lot of trains on the division. At one
point, it was held on a siding at Avert, Missouri, about 8 miles north
of Dexter for two hours, but it couldn't be helped. As far as I know,
nothing was wrong with the 3985 itself. Many thanks to Ed Mertes of St
Louis who called me from the train.
I was waiting for it at Dexter, Missouri for over
3 hours,
as was many others. There were hundreds lined up to see it coming
through Dexter at 540 p.m., but it was mostly dark by then. I made a
sound digital movie of it coming through Dexter since I couldn't take
an unblurry photo of it anyway. However, I had the movie setting on my
Sony camera set to VGA (640) mode, so the file is 33 mb in size. Except
for viewing on my own computer, that's way to large to send over the
Internet unless you have a broadband connection. Even then, 33mb is
quite a lot. So I won't put that on here at this time. Basically you
could see the lights and hear the great steam whistle of the 3985, but
not much else.
Here are some time-exposure photos I took at
Bernie, MO
after the train arrived. There were hundreds here too, and driving the
8 miles south from Dexter to Bernie took 30 minutes or so as traffic
was crawling at 15 mph.
JANUARY 23, 2004
- Today I
chased and photographed the special UP Challenger steam train from
Bernie, Missouri to Pine Bluff, Arkansas. It was full sun,
excellent photography weather.
JANUARY 24, 2004
- Today I got
photos of the Challenger from Pine Bluff to Texarkana, Arkansas and it
contains the first shot of the train in Texas. Unlike the perfect sunny
day yesterday, today it was raining, sometimes heavily, all day.
JANUARY
25-26, 2004 - Five photos of trains in
Little Rock/N
Little Rock, one on Crystal Hill Road.
UP
3985 STEAM
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2004 - UP Challenger 3985 photos
on part of
its trip from Dexter, Missouri to Texarkana, Arkansas, then from
Conroe, Texas to North Little Rock to Van Buren. Included are night
shots, the Conway tunnel, Ozark, Arkansas, plus a lot of cities and
towns in between.
FEBRUARY 3, 2004
- Today I
followed the steam special from Conroe, Texas to Longview and got shots
at Conroe, Trinity, Crockett, Overton and Longview.
FEBRUARY 4, 2004
- Today I
followed the train from Atlanta, Texas to North Little Rock, Arkansas.
It arrived at the UP Jenks Shops about 420 p.m. and will be open for
public display Thursday. Today I have scenes taken in Atlanta,
Texarkana, a low bridge near the Red River, Hope, and Little Rock and
North Little Rock. It was cold, but above freezing, with light sleet
from Texarkana to Little Rock and as I write this at 10 pm Wednesday
night, we're having thunder and lightning along with rain and sleet
mixed, temperatures 34 degrees.
FEBRUARY 5, 2004
- Today the
Challenger and its cars were on display to the public in North Little
Rock behind the UP offices on 4th Street. Jenks Shops can be seen in
the background. Noteworthy to me were the groups of school children
that were bussed to the area so they could see and touch the mighty
steam machine. Old and young alike came out by the thousands in the
cold and rain to view the 3985. Some were making memories that will
last a lifetime - others were having memories of past, simpler times
when steam ruled the railroads and trains were as popular as
automobiles are today. I think these pictures convey both generations.
FEBRUARY 5, 2004 NIGHT
- Night
shots of the 3985 in North Little Rock plus our night out at Grampa's
Catfish House with most of the Steam Crew, Thursday, February 5, 2004.
FEBRUARY 6, 2004
- The
Challenger left North Little Rock at about 845 a.m., heading west to
spend the night in Van Buren. Included are scenes at Burns Park in
North Little Rock, the tunnel just west of Conway, Russellville, and
the bridge at Ozark, which has a view of the Arkansas River to the
south and town of Ozark to the north.
BURTON, TEXAS RENOVATED SP DEPOT,
FEBRUARY
1, 2004 - FEBRUARY 1, 2004 in Burton, Texas
showing the
renovated Houston & Texas Central Railroad depot (later SP).
This
depot was made a Texas Historic Landmark in 1991 and is a beautiful
example of good renovation work.
Burton began as a terminal on the H&TC in
1870. A
depot built that year burned in 1898 and was replaced by the current
structure built according to standard plans of the Southern Pacific
Railroad, which absorbed the H&TC. It exhibits elements of the
Queen
Anne and Italianate styles. Outstanding features include wide
overhanging eaves and "Sunburst" gable windows, typical in Southern
Pacific structures. (This information from the plaque attached to the
building).
FEBRUARY
22, 2004
- Union Station, including a 5 1/2hour late Eagle, NS, BNSF and both
colors of CSX.
FEBRUARY
27,
2004 - FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2004 on the KCS in
Heavener and
Page, Oklahoma and Rich Mountain and Mena, Arkansas.
FEBRUARY
28, 2004 - KCS action and Railspot members at Page,
Oklahoma
and elsewhere.
FEBRUARY
29,
2004 - Union Station, including UP, CR, CSX, TFM,
BNSF, SSW.
DALLAS,
TX
MARCH 26, 2004 - In Dallas for the annual TX
Association of RR
Passengers/NARP meeting. View of Dallas Union Station and trains from
hotel room on 8th floor, plus Dallas, Garland & Northeastern
passing the station as well as TRE and DART and Amtrak 22.
APRIL
4, 2004 -
LaGRANGE, TEXAS - Wednesday, April 7, 2004 at
La Grange,
Texas showing one UP empty rock train plus scenes of the neat little
former-Katy depot there.
APRIL 10, 2004
- SUNDAY, APRIL
11, 2004 at Union Station, Little Rock. Was there about an hour and a
half and saw UP, CN, BNSF, SP, all northbound. All photos by Ken
Ziegenbein.
BLACKLANDS
RR EXCURSION COMMERCE TX APRIL 17, 2004-
This excursion used
former Santa Fe Hi-Levels. Got this email from Murphy Jenkins regarding
the steam engine marked for the Conway Scenic Railway. Here is that
email: "Hello Ken, I'm Murphy Jenkins I met you at the Brinkley Depot a
couple years back. Well I was looking through your web page(Love all
your train photos) and I noticed while on your trip on the Blacklands
Railroad that you wondered where an old Steam Engine Tender &
Cab,
marked for the Conway Scenic Railway came from. Well the story behind
that is that it is from former Reader Railroad(The Original from the
60s & 70s). It then was sold to Conway Scenic who ran it for
many
years. Later Conway Scenic sold it to the Blacklands. Now it maybe sold
again(not sure to whom). Well I hope I solved your mystery even if it
has been over 8 years :)
Ship it on the Frisco!!!
MAY
2, 2004
- Union Station with CN, KCS, SP, NS and UP. Several were there from
out of town to attend the UP open house later.
UNION
PACIFIC OPEN HOUSE AT JENKS SHOPS NORTH LITTLE ROCK MAY 2, 2004
- May
2, 2004 open house at Union Pacific's North Little Rock's Jenks Shops
and North Little Rock's yards. Fifty of the 52 photos here were reduced
in size to 320 pixels wide, so they shouldn't take too long to load. I
put all the photos I made on this site to have a permanent record of
the event.
Hundreds of people, many with small children,
attended the
Union Pacific Jenks Shops open house Sunday afternoon, May 2, 2004, in
North Little Rock, Arkansas. Along with UP tour guides inside the Jenks
Shop locomotive repair facility ready to answer any questions, there
were free hot dogs and soft drinks - even a bunch of portable toilets
set up. They also chartered about a half dozen North Little Rock school
buses for personally guided tours of the Hump Yards and other parts of
the large UP yard facilities. The lines for the buses were long.
My indoor photos were without flash with the ISO
set to
800. A few of the statistics about the yard given by the 30-year UP
employee onboard my bus was as follows:
1) UP averages 68 trains a day through Arkansas.
2) The North Little Rock yards handle an average of 62,000 cars a month
(this March they handled 66,000).
3) The NLR yards are the largest capacity-wise on the UP system
according to our guide.
4) UP uses 5 million gallons of diesel fuel a month in North Little
Rock.
5) Besides repairing locomotives, UP also repairs freight cars at
North Little Rock, averaging 75 cars a month.
6) UP is the number one employer in the city with 1,900 employees with
a payroll of $160 million a year.
7) The yard complex is five miles long with dozens of tracks. If all
the tracks were laid end to end as one railroad, it would go 225
miles.
MAY
9, 2004
- Union Station with various coal trains and mixed
locomotive
consists.
MAY
16, 2004
- Union Station including a Tropicana Refrigerator car and a
Ferromex locomotive, among several other non-UP units.
UP
3985 AT
LODGEPOLE, NEBRASKA - Union Pacific's Challenger
steam
locomotive, the 3985, started a several week journey to Houston, Texas
from its home in Cheyenne, Wyoming on Saturday, May 22, 2004. Here is
the train's first service stop on this epic journey, at Lodgepole,
Nebraska about 1130 a.m. that day. My wife and I were on our
way
to Montana for another special train ride and worked it out so that we
could be in Lodgepole on May 22. There is also a shot of it
speeding eastbound through Chappell, Nebraska, about 9 miles east of
Lodgepole.
UP
CHALLENGER JUNE 17, 2004 - The UP Challenger is
shown heading
for Arkansas through Jefferson, Texas and then at its service stop in
Texarkana, Texas/Arkansas.
JUNE
27, 2004
- Union Station in Little Rock. Included today: Unknown 7097, UP 4180,
UP 3480, UP 2511, LMS 7922, UP4841, FURX 3009, CSX 480, NS 9542.
JULY
2, 2004
- Including two trains passing between Sinton and Odem, Texas (one with
a BNSF unit and the other a NS unit) and one train in the hole at
Woodsboro (with KCS/TFM power). Also some shots of the newly restored
Kingsville, Texas MoPac depot, complete with a high black iron fence
protecting the track.
JULY
3, 2004
- At Kingsville, Texas. Included today is a UP freight running
northbound by the restored Kingsville depot at 530 p.m., just as the
new bandstand dedication was beginning across the tracks. Plus BNSF
4371 pulled into Kingsville from the south and did some switching
maneuvers with perfect last afternoon lighting about 7 p.m.
JULY
18, 2004
- Union Station in Little Rock. Today we saw some rather rare cars,
including a Cotton Belt Scale Test Car built in June 1926, SSW #99203.
The same train, a Pine Bluff local, had an unpatached SP unit on the
front (SP #8576) and a Missouri Pacific work car in the middle of the
train. The scale test car was the second car from the rear. Also today,
a CSX lead unit in the new CSX
color scheme, an old UP faded unit #202, a UP and BNSF combination on
the
head end of a southbound coal train, plus NS, CEFX.
JULY
25, 2004
- Included today: HLCX 6225, several NS units, several UP
units,
one
Conrail and several CSX units. Also today, a relatively rare train used
the
Amtrak siding. UNION
STATION
BUILDING, JULY 25, 2004 - Photos of Union Station
itself July
25,
2004 and previous dates. AUGUST 15,
2004
- Little Rock's Union Station. Of special interest today was
Wisconsin
Central 6611, CSX 7532, SP patched 483, Rio Grande patched 9850, NS
8949,
a bright yellow tank car, LLPX 2306 leading a weed-spraying train,
ASPLUNDH
car, and various UP locomotives. A total of 23 pictures.
AUGUST 22, 2004
- A couple of
faded SP units passing Union Station in Little Rock on August 22, 2004.
SOUND
MPEG
MOVIE
AMTRAK 22, AUGUST 28, 2004 - This was a request I
had to record
the
horn of Amtrak engine #84 for a blind middle-school boy in Illinois.
The
Eagle was 2 hours and 25 minutes late, arriving at 2:25 a.m.
STREETCAR
TRACKS/WIRES
AUGUST 29, 2004 - Views of overhead wires and
completed track
for
the new Little Rock/North Little Rock streetcars. They did a test run
August
27.
SEPTEMBER 4-5, 2004
- Includes
PJS Alco 303 in Pine Bluff and passing coal trains at Union Station.
SEPTEMBER 12, 2004
- Special
airline parts two-car train; Trona locomotive 6242; BNSF coal train,
all at Union Station.
PERSISTENTLY EARLY TEXAS EAGLE 21
September
23, 2004 - I took Amtrak 21, the southbound
Texas Eagle,
from Little Rock to Austin, Texas on Thursday, September 23, 2004. The
train was close to on time or early at every stop. Here's the story and
photos.
OCTOBER 10, 2004
- Little Rock
Union Station in the rain. Includes a UP work equipment train.
TROLLEY RIDE FOR CLUB MEMBERS
OCTOBER 20,
2004 - This was a last-minute chance for us as
Arkansas
Railroad Club members to get a ride over River Rail Streetcar's entire
2.5 mile route through North Little Rock and Little Rock. I called and
emailed as many as I could to notify of this event after getting a call
from John C Jones saying he had arranged for the special
once-in-a-lifetime event. It was dark and cloudy at 6 p.m.
OCTOBER 24, 2004
- Union Station
in Little Rock. Bright, sunny, mild day - temperatures in the 70s.
Includes many non-UP power, including Santa Fe 146 in warbonnet colors.
FALL COLORS UP BRANCH NLR, AR
-
These were taken along the UP branch line to Camp Robinson in North
Little Rock, Arkansas on November 19. 2004.
AMTRAK'S TOYOTA 'TUNDRA'
LOCOMOTIVE
- Taken at Union Station in Little Rock at midnight, November 25, 2004.
These were painted to two locomotives and were to be used through
December 2004.
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE LITTLE ROCK
DEC 29, 2004
- This train was 9 and a half hours late due to a late start in Chicago
the night before, so it arrived at 1:35 p.m.
instead of
4:30 a.m. Two private cars were on the end.
* * *
* * * * * * * * * *
2005
JANUARY 1, 2005
- A foggy day at
Union Station in Little Rock. Rather 'moody' photos.
JANUARY 9, 2005
- A Kasgro
16-axle heavy duty 450-ton depressed deck flat car. Plus there was one
unaltered Cotton Belt and one two unaltered SP units today passing
Union Station in Little Rock.
JANUARY 16, 2005
- Unusual today
were two
back to back BNSF trackage-rights trains, the second being a BNSF
intermodal, something we had not seen going northbound through Little
Rock before.
JANUARY 30, 2005
- Of special
interest today is Conrail 6783, BNSF 8923, BN green coal hoppers, and
DWP 2905. It was cloudy and cool, in the 40s.
FEBRUARY 6, 2005
- Special
interest
today: UP work crew in SW Little Rock, Feb 5; SP 8352, UP 1337, GATX
7367, two passing northbounds.
FEBRUARY 26, 27, 2005
- I
went to Rich Mountain, Arkansas and Page, Oklahoma this weekend
(February 26, 27, 2005) to get some KCS action, but failed to capture
even one KCS train while there. However, on my way back to Little Rock,
I stopped at Union Station and got several trains in an hours period,
INCLUDING KCS #2049 as the second unit in a UP train. So I finally got
my KCS locomotive, even though I wouldn't have had to leave home to do
it! Also today, Feb 27, I saw UP, SF blue/yellow, NS, BNSF, and a
Cryo-Trans car. Also, two MoPac cabooses on display in Crystal Springs,
Arkansas, about 15 miles west of Hot Springs, on Feb 27.
CHOCTAW/ROCK ISLAND DEPOT AT
CLINTON LIBRARY
- I decided to go to the Clinton Library in Little Rock just to take a
few photos of the refurbished Choctaw (Rock Island) passenger station
the library made into a school. Plus some photos of the Rock Island
bridge, which the library is supposed to make into a walking path by
the end of 2005. As some of you know, the 100-year old Choctaw Freight
House, which sat across from the passenger station, was demolished for
the library in November 2001, but at least they did a good job of
refurbishing the Choctaw passenger station.
I parked in North Little Rock, rode the trolley
across the
Arkansas River to the River Market in Little Rock, then walked about a
half mile to the Clinton Library. Security personnel are all over, and
if you go inside the library, you will be searched like at an airport.
Nobody said anything about my taking photos, though. In fact, former
U.S. Senator David Pryor, who is the dean of the Clinton School
(located inside the Choctaw Passenger Station), told me it was no
problem taking the pictures.
So far, whether or not one likes or dislikes
President
Clinton, the library has been a real boon to Little Rock's River Market
area for tourists, including riders of the streetcars. Almost every day
I ride the trolleys, someone boards who came to town to see the
library. Personally, I have not yet been inside it myself.
MARCH 2005 STREETCAR CROWDS
LIT/NLR, AR
- March 2005 views of the increasingly busy Central Arkansas River Rail
streetcar system. These photos were all made in March 2005 in various
kinds of weather. On March 30, there was a group from Norway onboard,
plus visitors from at least six states. On March 29, ridership on just
one of the streetcars totaled over 600 in just a few hours.
Spring break was in full swing as well so there were a good deal of
children. Made me feel like I was in a flashback to the 1930s
and
1940s! (Ken Ziegenbein)
APRIL 3, 2005
- Seven various
UP/CSX/CNW units at Union Station in Little Rock.
APRIL 6, 2005
- Near Somerville,
Texas. This was on the BNSF at the Texas FM 1948 road crossing a couple
of miles south of Somerville, Texas where FM 1948 hits Texas Hwy 36.
There's a shell station there and I was standing in the covered picnic
shelter at that intersection. I missed the dpu's however. Time was 8:50
a.m. April 6, 2005.
APRIL 18, 2005 MOVIE - LARGE
- A
1 minute 52 second sound mpeg movie of Amtrak's Texas Eagle northbound
No. 22 leaving Little Rock. It's almost 3 mb in size so dialup will
take a few minutes. But I thought since its so rare for such long
trains (this one had 16 Superliner cars due to the combining of the
previous day's train in Dallas because of a minor derailment the day
before. It was a Sunday night), I'd preserve it in cyberspace. They had
trouble loading the second engine. It finally left at 1:52 a.m. (Note I
had said it was April 17, but since the train got to LRK after
midnight, it was actually Monday, April 18, 2005)
APRIL 24, 2005-
Sunday,
April 24, 2005 at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas. It was
a bright, sunny day. Included are locomotives: UP (5056, 1540, 9525,
4788, 4504, 4408, 4190, 3989, 3848, 3753); NS (8893, 9824); SSW 9699;
SanfaFeBlueYellow 6760; CSX 768; BNSF 4597. Also one bright red Canada
car. Later in the day, I got a couple of artsy sunset scenes across the
tracks.
APRIL 30, 2005
- At Union
Station in Little Rock. Locomotives included today are: UP (3819, 4519,
4261, 3991, 4430); NS
(9118, 6603, 8300, 6637, 9620); HLCX
3814, blue-red. Plus a
dove paid me a visit.
NIGHT PHOTOS RIVER MARKET LITTLE
ROCK
- I decided, since it was my birthday April 30, 2005, to celebrate by
taking some night photos of the Little Rock/North Little Rock trolleys,
using my Sony DV1 digital and time exposures. I walked all over the
very busy River Market District and downtown area of Little Rock on
this Saturday night with my camera and tripod. There were hordes of
cars and people (several times I was asked to take people's pictures).
I walked all the way from the Museum of Discovery to Robinson Center,
then over to Second Street and back to the River Market, all toll a
couple of miles. Bands were playing, nightclubs were full,
there
was a party atmosphere on the streets.
I noticed that the streetcars had very slow going
on
Markham/Clinton Avenue due to cars backed up 2-3 blocks and people
walking on the tracks. However, there was standing room only
on
some streetcars too. I'm putting this on the web for those of you who
no longer want to go out late at night to party or to see streetcars
(me neither, most of the time - I wouldn't have been here either if it
were not for the streetcars!) (Taken by Ken Ziegenbein)
BOONE & SCENIC VALLEY
RAILROAD
- May 21, 2005, in Boone, Iowa. They fired up and ran the Chinese steam
locomotive, JS8419 for the first time on this day.
RIVERFEST - LITTLE ROCK-TROLLEYS
- May 28, 2005 - Riverfest 2005 at Little Rock and
North Little Rock, Arkansas, May 27-28, 2005. For the first time, the
River Rail Streetcars were running and I went along for the ride. There
was standing room only on the two streetcars that ran the entire North
Little Rock-Little Rock loop. In fact, several times they had to tell
people to wait for the next trolley after reaching the max number of
riders per car (80). This website will have photos of these full
trolleys as well as the areas surrounding the festival. I even got a
shot of the Bush Baked Beans dog!!
Since so many had to be turned away because of full
trolleys, at
times tempers flared in the line waiting to get on. I recall one lady
trying to call police because the lady behind her was pushing her
little girl out of the way. Thank goodness it wasn't that hot
outside (temps only around 80 and dry - I remember years when it was at
least 90 and humid). The fare box was stuffed with dollar
bills
and quarters with the motorman having to frequently dump the money into
the 'safe box' below. All in all, at least from what I saw
today,
the trolleys
were a tremendous hit. It was also helpful that people from Central
Arkansas Transit stood at many stops with change for riders.
FIREWORKS
AT
RIVERFEST MAY 29, 2005 - Annual Riverfest
fireworks,
Sunday,
May 29, 2005 taken from the Park Hill area in North Little Rock,
Arkansas.
THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE, BRANSON,
MO JUNE 3,
2005 - "Day Out with Thomas" in Branson,
Missouri June 3, 2005, starring Thomas the Tank Engine. Huge
crowds. It was also held June 4, 5, 10, 11,12. Neat sight to
see.
It was run using the Branson Scenic Railway's regular
equipment.
JUNE 5, 2005 INCLUDING 'TEMPO'
GROUP AT
UNION STATION - Sunday, June 5, 2005 at Union
Station,
Little Rock. Includes some Sony 'Nightshot' photos at 4 a.m. of passing
trains and a group of Texas Eagle Marketing and Performance
Organization (T.E.M.P.O.) passengers who were catching Amtrak's Texas
Eagle, No. 21, heading back to Texas. Also included are some colorful
sunrise/train photos. Locomotives today: UP-(4086, 3453, 9141, 9371,
8318, 8503); BNSF 5091; CSX 8318. Plus two red MKT gondolas.
JUNE 19, 2005
- June 19, 2005 at
Union Station in
Little Rock plus some scenes of cars on the former Rock Island (now
Little Rock & Western) near Murray Lock and Dam.
DEPOTS - A 'LIVING' SITE
-
Started June 18, 2005, this will be an ongoing site of current standing
depots in the mid-south region of the country. The depots may be
abandoned or used.
JUNE
25, 2005
- Saturday, June 25, 2005 at Union
Station in Little Rock. We were in an 'Ozone Action Day' alert and you
could see the haze before I Paint-Shop-Pro'd it to clear it up. Also
today, the second to last photo on this page will be for those who have
a widescreen computer monitor - 1280 pixels wide. Let me know if you
would like more of these higher-resolution photos. Locomotives today
include: UP 4237, 5577, 8023, 4107, 4227; CSX 4693, 4682; CN 6142.
LITTLE ROCK TROLLEYS JUNE 25, 2005
- A few
River Rail streetcar scenes in the busy River Market in Little Rock on
Saturday, June 25, 2005. There was a motorcycle gathering of
some
sort (Thunder at the Rock) plus a busy Farmers
Market. Plus
the Clinton Presidential Center had its 329,000th visitor since opening
in November 2004 (the trolleys have already carried 125,000 passenger
during that same time period).
TEXAS EAGLE JUNE 24, 2005
- I
went to the Amtrak station (Union
Station) in Little Rock to meet a returning group of Rotary Club
passengers who had been in Chicago in the wee hours of Friday, June 24,
2005. The train (Amtrak 21 Texas Eagle) was on time at 4:30 a.m. and
the station was really bustling with activity while the rest of the
world slept. I thought the night owl background was
appropriate.
JUNE 26, 2005
- June 26, 2005 -
Another somewhat hazy day at Union Station watching the
parade of locomotives and cars that pass by each day.
Included
today are: UP 5225, 9402, 9112, 1336, 8755, 6431, 4713; CSX 2755; RLCX
8571; NS 9409. Plus a Klemme Iowa Coop Grain car.
JULY 3, 2005
- Sunday, July 3,
2005 at Union Station
in Little Rock. Only 8 photos today, one of a southbound loaded coal
train with UP and BNSF warbonnet power. Locomotives today: UP: 6797,
5908, 9411, 9123; BNSF 713. The
background today is a photo I made of trees at my hometown in Texas.
I'm just playing around and won't use these backgrounds routinely
since it's almost impossible to get a font that you can read without
putting the text in separate tables. AMTRAK
EAGLE 22 JULY 3, 2005 - Amtrak 22, the
northbound Texas
Eagle,
on July 3, 2005 arrived 14 minutes early at 11:45 p.m. Here's
a
few photos. It has a twinkling star background.
JULY
24, 2005
- July 24, 2005 at Union Station in Little Rock, plus part
of
Jermain Taylor (World Middleweight Champion boxer) parade in Little
Rock's River District on July 22. You can see the trolley tracks where
the parade was held - the streetcars didn't start running until 1 p.m.
because of this parade. Plus I have some streetcar scenes of July 21
and 22. Locomotives and fallen flag cars today: UP:
4215,
8337, 3245, 166, 9642, 4391, 2507; NS: 9405,
9682.
Fallen Flags/other freight cars: Rio Grande hoppers,
Government
of Canada hoppers, Illinois Central grey
boxcar,
Canadian Pacific hopper, Pillsbury blue hopper,
Larinburg
& Southern boxcar, Rock Island painted-over gondola.
JUNCTION
BRIDGE LITTLE ROCK JULY 25, 2005 - On Monday,
July 25,
2005, I thought I'd get a few pictures of the abandoned old Missouri
Pacific Junction Bridge that crosses the Arkansas River between Little
Rock and North Little Rock. This bridge was given to the city by Union
Pacific on December 28, 2001 for use as a pedestrian bridge. Of course,
UP also didn't have to worry about demolition or insurance anymore
either. You can still see some of the tracks in the pavement,
but
most of the line that went to the west and connected with the UP main
line at Union Station has been taken up and paved over for a biking
path.
JULY
31, 2005
- Today (July 31, 2005) I saw a rare
green MKT boxcar with the faded MKT emblem on the upper left of the car
passing Union Station in Little Rock. Also seen were brand
new,
bright and shiny white refrigerator cars (ADMN) - 5 in a row - they
looked like ghosts under a full moon (ha). Plus seen today were some
new black gondolas with the reflective stripes, a bright blue CSX
Hi-Cube boxcar, a Columbus & Greenville boxcar, a VeraSun
Energy
car, a torn A&M decal on a boxcar, Cryo-Trans refrigerator car
and
a yellow tank car. We had two train meets in front of the station
today. Locomotives: SP: 2657, 8683, 105-unpatched and 356-unpatched.
UP: 8386, 4285, 2484, 4160, 4316, 5984, 9521, 4521, 229, 1890, 9169,
2252 and 4370. CSX: 8705. FURX: 8093. There are
30 photos, all 650 pixels wide for faster downloading.
UNION
PACIFIC
HERITAGE PUBLICITY PHOTOS JULY 30, 2005 - Union
Pacific
issued a press release on July 30, 2005 regarding painting some of
their locomotives in the colors of some of the railroads they merged
with over the years. They started out with Missouri Pacific
and
Western Pacific and the photos below were taken from their press
release (I converted their PDF format to JPG for the web, which is of a
lower quality but which has to be used in web pages). They will paint
others in MKT, SP, DRG, and other colors in the next few months. UP's
press release follows the photos. (Ken Ziegenbein - This webpage put
online with the permission of Union Pacific)
AUGUST
7, 2005
- Sunday, August 7, 2005 photos at Union Station in
Little
Rock. Units today: GCFX 3096 * UP: 6861, 6597, 3530, 9513,
9192,
4939, 7245, 2277, 5519 * NS: 2528 * SP-Patched 7833 * GATX 7359 * CSX
8856 * HLCX 7233 * Conrail 8320. Fallen Flag freight cars:
Southern Boxcar, DM&E hoppers not fallen flags, but a little
rare
here), three D&RGW hoppers No. 15569, 15501 and 15502. Also
today,
a MoPac buzzsaw on the end of a bulkhead flatcar.
NIGHT
SHOTS RIVER MARKET AUGUST 12, 2005 - The River
Market in
Little Rock Friday night, August 12, 2005. This was the first time the
street was closed to cars after 9 p.m. to make it safer for people
walking between restaurants and bars. The River Rail Trolleys ran as
usual and seemed to have more riders than usual who rode to the River
Market. I used my Sony Digital's 'Nightshot' mode, which gives a
greenish tint to the black and white images. I did not enhance any of
the photos. The starry background represents the most
populous
part of the galaxy.
AUGUST 14, 2005
- Saturday and
Sunday, August 13 and 14,
2005. Trains passing Union Station in Little Rock. (Thought I'd
brighten your day with this one-time-only burnt orange background!!
Next time I'll use Aggie colors!!). WARNING - There are 48
photos
today, over 3 mb worth, so expect a rather long opening of this webpage
unless you have broadband. It took 18 seconds to view all the
photos with my cable broadband. Lots of different locomotives and
rolling stock today. LOCOMOTIVES: *** FURX-3050 *** IC-6016 ***
LTEX-9912, 7437 ***
GECX-SP-8497 *** HLCX-6313 *** GSCX-7357 *** CSX-8880 *** CONRAIL-3046,
5430 *** CNW-8701-I believe one of the last pure CNW yellow/green
units-great heritage color idea *** UP-582, 2431, 9520, 2201, 2858,
9416, 3802, 4530, 4674, 4264, 5082, 9519, 6364, 8357 (NEW SD-70ACE up
close on the Amtrak siding!), 9471, 9482, 2830. ROLLING STOCK: CNW
yellow boxcar *** ICG orange Hi-Cube box ***
Railcare Tank car *** ATW bright red new boxcars *** CSX patchy-colored
Hi-Cube *** D&H hoppers (3 in a row in the classic colors)
*** flat loaded with I believe bridge supports? *** three
Rock
Island hoppers *** New UP reddish hopper *** D&H Gondolas *** A
smiling UP engineer from the cab of his stopped train in front of Union
Station.
UP/MOPAC HERITAGE LOCOMOTIVE 1982
AUGUST
18, 2005 - Thursday, August 18, 2005: Union
Pacific's new Heritage MoPac locomotive Number 1982 made a trip through
eastern Arkansas on the Cotton Belt to Pine Bluff, then eventually to
Louisiana. I caught it at Wabbeseka and Altheimer, Arkansas, running
exactly as advertised the day before. It was the first time (I believe)
that the new unit was used on a regular freight, the ZYCHOB out of
Chicago. It was HOT, 100 degrees with heat index of 110. The shade
trees were a necessity.
UP/MOPAC HERITAGE 1982 PASSING
UNION
STATION AUGUST 20, 2005 - UP 1982 MoPac Heritage
locomotive
passing Little Rock's Union Station, 5:18 p.m. Saturday,
August
20, 2005. I was looking into the sun but I managed to adjust the
exposure. Special thanks to John C. Jones, Mark Silverberg
and
David Hawkins for keeping me informed as to its whereabouts. Joe Roddy
has some photos on this webpage too, taken from the other side of the
tracks. There were 10 people at the station earlier in the afternoon,
but had dwindled to only 3 by the time the train came (Mike Condren and
a group were here from Memphis but left to catch the train at another
location). I was the only one to photograph from the Amtrak platform.
(Ken Ziegenbein)
AUGUST
20, 21, 2005 - Saturday, August 20 and Sunday,
August
21, 2005 trains at Union Station in Little Rock. Included during these
two days: UP:
9833,
1982, 9420, 4897, 2765 (with fresh UP paint - you could actually smell
the new paint as it went by - a future UP Heritage unit celebrating
UP?), 9389, 4402 (first of TEN locomotives on this train), 9533, 3831.
***
9031, 4737,
4785, 8587, 7707. *** NS:
3534, 9399. *** LTEX:
6900. *** CEFX:
2100. *** MKT Green hopper, one load of logs. It
was again
hot as the blazes, about 98 with heat index 106.
UP/MOPAC HERITAGE 1982 WITH LRWN
AUGUST 25,
2005 - Thursday, August 25, 2005. UP 1982
(MoPac Heritage) passing Union Station in Little Rock, northbound. At
the same time, Little Rock & Western came around the curve and
I
got a photo of them together briefly. I called this photo "LRWN Kissing
UP1982." The train came through at 11:26 a.m.
UP/KATY HERITAGE LOCOMOTIVE 1988
IN
ARKANSAS AUGUST 27, 2005 - Union
Pacific's Heritage locomotive 1988, in Katy red colors, going south for
the first time through Arkansas on Saturday, August 27, 2005. It was a
stormy, dark day, but that seemed to make the color saturation a little
better in some cases and the photos turned out nice in most cases. I
started out in Brinkley, Arkansas, early in the day, but the 1988 kept
getting delayed. It finally zipped through Brinkley at track speed
at 12:27 p.m. during a thunderstorm, and my first photo of
1988
was taken through the bay windows of the restored 90+ year old Cotton
Belt/Rock Island depot in Brinkley. Kinda artsy, but I thought kinda
neat as well. The depot is now a museum that has railroad items in it
plus a Louisiana Purchase exhibit. The secretary for the museum and
historical building, Terri, was nice enough to let me wait around there
for about 3 hours for the train. Her picture and that of the
outside of the depot are the first two photos. (All photos and sound
MPEG movie by Ken Ziegenbein)
BRINKLEY,
ARKANSAS DEPOT VARIOUS SEPTEMBER 2005 - For a
little change
of scenery
regarding rail photography, here's some photos I took at Brinkley Union
Station Museum in Brinkley, Arkansas from August 27 through September
10, 2005. I'm now a volunteer worker/host at the depot/museum on
Saturdays. The UP main directional-south line (ne. Cotton Belt) runs
right past this restored depot and the trains run at track speed (55-60
mph) past the station. Plus UP's line to Memphis (ne. Rock Island)
meets the Cotton Belt line at the depot, so at times you can see train
lights in the distance both from the north and from the east. At other
times, it's quiet train-wise for a couple of hours (they seem to run in
rapid succession, almost all southbound).
Come visit the museum if you're ever driving by
Brinkley
on Interstate 40 (between Little Rock and Memphis on the old Rock
Island and Cotton Belt (UP). It's located where US 70 crosses the UP
tracks in downtown Brinkley. The depot is officially called the Central
Delta Depot Museum, 100 West Cypress St, Brinkley AR 72121-2809. The
depot is the original 1912 Rock Island/Cotton Belt depot which was
almost torn down in the early 1990s. Head of the museum is Bill Sayger,
billsayger@cddm.org,
www.cddm.org.
You may also
contact me, Ken Ziegenbein, at the email link at the top of this page -
this link will take you to a comments form. Some of the nicest people
I've ever met work at or volunteer at this museum.
SEPTEMBER 13, 2005 SUNSET AT
UNION STATION
- Decided to do a little 'artsy' sunset
photography at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas on Tuesday,
September 13, 2005. Trains involved were two UP trains and the daily
BNSF local that was backing/switching along the Little Rock &
Western (Rock Island) toward Pulaski.
SEPTEMBER 17, 2005
- Brinkley,
Arkansas Saturday September
17, 2005. Only 7 photos, but one is of some sort of covered container
and what apparently is a heating mixer for cement or blacktop
(according to Frank Weed and others on Railspot). The
train was southbound from Memphis, having just went around the sharp
curve at the Brinkley depot.
SEPTEMBER
22, 2005 - UP/MKT 1988 passing
Union Station in
Little Rock on Thursday, September 22, 2005. Also on this page: HLCX
6298 *** UP 3353, 1539, 9492 *** CN 6295 *** CEFX 7087 ***
LRWN
101 and 102 *** HLCX 6062 *** GATX 7372 *** NS
6792. Thanks
to Mark Silverberg of One Track Mind Hobbies for calling me to give me
the heads up on the 1988.
OCTOBER
1, 2,
2005 - SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2005 in
Little Rock and
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1 in Brinkley, Arkansas. Motive power on October 2
includes: UP 9478, 9579, 5109, 4983, 6604 *** CSX 4794 *** Santa Fe
6848 *** BNSF 634, 155. Fallen flag rolling stock: Rock Island hopper,
MKT red gondola #16165 with colorful scrap, Ashley, Drew
&
Northern boxcar, an old Santa Fe freight car, probably an old woodchip
car.
TRAINS
IN
NEW ULM, TEXAS - Saturday, October 8, 2005 in
New Ulm,
Texas showing a train parked after the crew ran out of time.
Plus
an old Santa Fe boxcar used for storage with 'Santa Fe all the way'
still visible. Plus on Sunday morning, another train was
parked
on the siding to the west of Highway 109. It was parked there
all
Saturday night and I could hear a low-grade rumbling sound all night
long as the engine idled.
DEPOTS
ON ABANDONED ROCK ISLAND EAST ARKANSASFor
larger photos, either click on the individual photos to make them
larger OR to view this same page formatted for broadband with all the
pictures larger, click on: http://www.trainweather.com/abandonedrockislandaroct182005-broadband.html
Tuesday, October 18, and Saturday, October 22, 2005 I drove
along US Highway 70 between Brinkley and North Little Rock, Arkansas,
stopping to photograph the remnants of the Rock Island Railroad that
used to go though this area (the Rock's 'Sunbelt Line'). This has views
of remaining Rock Island
depots at Hazen, Carlisle, Hazen and Lonoke. All photos by
Ken Ziegenbein.
OCTOBER
23,
2005 - Sunday October 23, 2005 at Union
Station in Little Rock. It was a windy and cold day, temperature about
51. Locomotives/cars today include: UP 4087, 9646, 3313; CN 5627; CEFX
7087; a UP old yellow hi-cube boxcar with the map on the side; two
green Katy gondolas.
NOVEMBER
6, 2005
- Sunday, November 6, at Union Station in Little Rock. Of
special interest today is the fact that the Little Rock and Western ran
a very long string of cars to the station, but had to back up past the
Rebsemen Road crossing again since UP didn't have room for them. It's
unusual that LRWN runs on Sunday, but we figured that the wooden
trestle near Bigelow was just repaired and they had to move a lot of
cars. That trestle had sunk two feet a few weeks ago and had to be
redone. It's on the former Rock Island Sunbelt line. I also
made
two sound MPEG digital movies of the famous LRWN Alcos 101
and
102 as they accelerated, a unique Alco sound.
Also today are: UP 4395 on the Amtrak siding (also
somewhat unusual), UP 3148, 9759, 4310, 9531, 2056 and 2931. Also NS
2633, 9282 and LLPX 2230.
NOVEMBER 13, 2005
- Sunday,
November 13, 2005 at Little Rock, Bald Knob, Worden, Fair Oaks and
Brinkley, Arkansas. A 'true' chase today with BNSF 925 with Santa Fe
lettering in the warbonnet scheme passing Little Rock's Union Station
at 9:58 a.m., Bald Knob at 11:55 a.m., Worden at 12:12 p.m. and finally
Fair Oaks (where the line to Memphis crosses the old SP north-south
line) at 12:57 p.m. It was a cloudy and sometimes rainy day.
Other locomotives today are: UP 5002, 8317, 4860,
4129,
3404; CSX 8394; CN 5683. The Arkansas Railroad Club had its meeting at
the Bald Knob MoPac renovated depot, now home of Arkansas Traveler
Hobbies. There was a good turnout even with the dark skies. I
also was at the Brinkley Union Depot Museum later in the day to help
with their Christmas Open House and got a few trains passing there.
NOVEMBER
19,
20, 2005 - Saturday, November 19 and Sunday,
November 20, 2005 at Brinkley and Little Rock, Arkansas. Included: CSX
9014, 7837, 8599 *** UP 8022, 5043, 5524, 3001, 4102, 4182
*** NS
9029
*** CR 6764 *** HLCX 9028 *** SF 6465, 6464. Also on Sunday we saw a
colorful car painted with crayons parked at the station in Little Rock.
BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS DECEMBER 3,
2005
- SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2005 at Brinkley
Union Depot in Brinkley, Arkansas. Included today: CSX 7721, BNSF 5187,
HLCX 7187, CSX 8021, NS 9774, UP
4835.
DECEMBER 18, 2005 LITTLE ROCK AND
BRINKLEY
- Sunday, December 18, 2005 viewing a
few trains passing the station in Little Rock, Arkansas. There was a
rare meet of a northbound and southbound. Locomotives today include: SP
7325, 7310 *** UP 4310, 9463, 5152, 1337, 1336, 4682, 4360 *** FURX
3051 *** CSX 7912.
CENTRAL ARKANSAS STREETCARS DEC
27, 2005 -
JAN 1, 2006 - Streetcars
in Little Rock/North Little Rock during the Christmas/New Year season
2005/2006. Quite a busy week (December 27-January 1). The streetcars
ran on New Years Day as usual.
JANUARY 1, 2006
- Saturday,
December 31, 2005 and
Sunday, January 1, 2006 trains at Brinkley and Little Rock, Arkansas.
Included are: UP-3893, 9759, 4658, 1855, 9369 *** NS 8672 *** SP 8664,
8683 *** CN 6939, 2508.
BRINKLEY,
AR
JANUARY 21, 2006 - It was a busy day at
Brinkley, Arkansas
today, Saturday January 21, 2006. After some maintenance equipment
passing in the morning, there were 16 trains between 11:17 a.m. and
4:01 p.m. with another approaching as I was leaving at 4:10 p.m.
Included today were the following locomotives:
UP - 9541, 7908, 5228, 4847, 9556, 9555, 5016, 9809, 1853, 9517 *** NS
- 6605 *** HLCX - 7191 *** CN - 6253 *** Wisconsin Central - 7495 ***
SP - 8359 *** CSX -9039 *** Unknown blue locomotive 8466. I also
stopped off the shoulder of Interstate 40 early Saturday morning just
past the Protho Junction exit to get a hazy picture of a Frisco caboose
near some plant. I assume it's been there for years, but the Frisco
emblem looks quite good. I've also included photos from inside the
Brinkley Depot Museum.
SNOWY DAY IN BRINKLEY, AR FEB 10,
2006
- A snowy day in Brinkley, Arkansas,
Friday February 10, 2006. I saw two trains pass each other about 3
p.m., one being a northbound, one southbound from Memphis. Heavy snow
was falling with visibility about a half mile to one mile. Also have
included a few photos of the Brinkley Union Depot Museum in
the
snow. (Photos by Ken
Ziegenbein)
LITTLE ROCK STREETCAR IN SNOW FEB
10, 2006
- This is a webpage with a link to a LARGE (8 MB) digital sound MPEG
movie of one of the Little Rock streetcars in heavy snow running on
East Markham
Street (Clinton Avenue) through the River Market District on Friday,
February 10, 2006. This 640 pixel-wide movie is the same resolution as
a regular TV screen.
AMTRAK No. 21 TURNED TO BECOME
No. 22
LITTLE ROCK IN DAYLIGHT FEB 16, 2006 - THURSDAY,
FEBRUARY
16, 2006 - Amtrak's
southbound Texas Eagle, Number 21, was terminated at Little Rock in the
predawn hours, then turned to become the northbound Eagle Number 22,
scheduled to leave Little Rock at midnight. Apparently, UP had a
freight mishap in Texas. Passengers to Texas were bused from Little
Rock and later the passengers from Texas to Chicago were bused to
Little Rock to catch Number 22 at midnight. Shown is the train, which
sat at Union Station in Little Rock all day Thursday, Feb 16.
Photos by Ken Ziegenbein.
Of note, temperatures were in the lower 70s today,
but by
the time the train left at midnight, it was down to 39 degrees. An ice
storm was also likely the coming weekend of February 18 and 19.
FEBRUARY 26, 2006
- At Union
Station in Little Rock. Sunday, February 26, 2006 at Union Station in
Little Rock, Arkansas. Locomotives today: CN 2421 *** UP
3338,
9519, 3772, 4526, 8385 *** CR 6574 *** CSX 7589, 271. All photos by Ken
Ziegenbein.
MARCH 4, 2006
- At Brinkley,
Arkansas. Included today: SF Warbonnet 517, Bluebonnet 6759
***
UP 4100 *** CSX 8106 *** CN 5428 *** And an old Missouri Pacific
baggage or work car. Plus a February 25 shot of a green Ashley, Drew
& Northern boxcar. Photos by Ken Ziegenbein.
MARCH 26, 2006
- Sunday, March
26, 2006 at the Amtrak
station in Little Rock. Nice, sunny day. Locomotive power today: CSX
8824, UP 7034, SP 8312, UP 3237, UP 3996, NS 8900, UP 3000,
MKT
red
gondola.
NEW ULM, TEXAS APRIL 1, 2006
-
New Ulm, Texas, Saturday April 1,
2006. One train, trying out my new camera with ISO set to 3200 and
flash, just after sunset.
APRIL 8, 2006 - BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS
- Saturday, April 8, 2006 at Brinkley,
Arkansas, all taken by Ken Ziegenbein. Locomotives today: UP 4102,
4661, 4828, 5011 *** CN 5331 *** SP 8492 (GECX) *** HLCX 5993 *** CSX
7848 *** NS 9396, 2657 *** Conrail 7394.
APRIL 9, 2006
- Sunday, April 9,
2006 at Union Station in Little Rock. Included today are UP Heritage
1988, the KATY unit (1988 photos by Joe Roddy -all other photos by Ken
Ziegenbein). Also today: UP 4859, 4673,
3167,
7910, 1815 *** NS 8901, 2546 *** HLCX
3848 *** CN
2675 *** SP 9794 (didn't see any patches). Plus a
faded
Rock Island hopper.
LITTLE
ROCK/NORTH LITTLE ROCK NEW STREETCAR APRIL 6, 2006 - Central
Arkansas
Transit (http://www.cat.org) received a new streetcar April 6, 2006
from Gomaco in Ida Grove, Iowa, the fourth in its roster. Here are some
photos of it (No. 411) arriving in North Little Rock, Arkansas via
special flatbed truck and in the trolley barn on April 6.
ENTIRE STREETCAR ROUTE AND NEW
TRACK
CONSTRUCTION APRIL 9, 2006 - On Sunday, April 9,
2006, I
walked along the
route of the newly laid extension of the streetcar tracks all the way
to the Clinton Presidential Center and Park and Heifer International.
This will add 3/4 mile to the entire system and is supposed to open in
the Fall of this year (2006). Most of those new tracks are now in place
and I understand that they are waiting on a special crossover to
connect to the current system at Commerce and Second Streets.
No
overhead wires are in place yet either. Plus I rode and photographed
the entire 2 1/2 mile loop, also on Sunday.
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE NIGHT PHOTOS
APRIL 18,
2006 - Monday night/Tuesday morning, April
17-18,
2006, at the Amtrak Station in Little Rock trying out my
high-sensitivity setting (ISO 3200) with and without flash as the Texas
Eagle No. 22 came in. Using such a high ISO reading means
some
grain and noise in the photos, especially if you zoom in. However, I
enjoy the possibilities of this type of night photography. I'm using a
new Sony Cyber-Shot R1 DSLR.
NIGHT
TRAIN
PHOTOS APRIL 22, 2006 - Experimenting with my
Sony R1
digital camera's high-sensitivity settings, I went to Union Station in
Little Rock Saturday night, April 22, 2006 and took the following
photos. ISO was set to 3200 and the flash setting was brightened. Since
the sensitivity was set so high, some scenes are almost too bright and
of course, they are noisy and grainy, especially if you zoom in. Also,
the splotches on some photos apparently are common occurrences of night
flash shots taken with digital cameras of dark backgrounds. I also read
some sites that say they are actual 'orbs' or ghosts that the camera's
high sensitivity is seeing. If so, then the really bright
'orb'
in front of the SP locomotive must be the ghost of a very important
engineer of the past!! Anyway, they are probably just the result of
refraction in the lens (which is perfectly clean). Also, the splotches
don't show up in the same place twice.
APRIL 23, 2006 LITTLE ROCK
-
Sunday, April 23, 2006 at the Amtrak Union Station in Little Rock. Of
interest today was the scary site of an unknown person with a green
bucket walking down one of the two UP main lines in front of the
station. He put his bucket down and proceeded to sit on it in
the
middle of the track. He was acting very erratic and wouldn't
listen to us telling him to move, so we called the UP Special Agent
(via the UP 888 emergency number - 1-888-UPRRCOP (877-7267).
The
trespasser finally got up and walked down the track toward the Baring
Cross bridge. As he did so, a northbound train approached on the same
track, but fortunately had to stop for a red board. I told
them
about the erratic movements of the individual, which could still be
seen
down the track. At this time, the Special Agent showed up and drove
down to the Baring Cross bridge, and the trespasser moved off the track.
Also today: UP 4828, 5380,4665, upy 691, 1881,
4322, 5072,
6454, 7263, 3000 *** CSX 8590 *** CR 7358 *** CN 5259. Also freight
cars: North Western boxcar, Rock Island hopper, Wisconsin Central
container car, Southern Pacific boxcar looking like a fresh coat of
paint, Rio Grande hoppers, Atlantic and Western boxcar, 'Big Blue' CSX
boxcar, SSI boxcar, Larinburg and Southern boxcar, Family Lines hopper,
CRYO-Trains car, LambWeston car, large Seaboard System boxcar, Duluth,
Winnipeg & Pacific boxcar. (All photos by Ken Ziegenbein)
APRIL 29, 2006 - BRINKLEY,
ARKANSAS
- Saturday, April 29, 2006 parade of
trains at Brinkley, Arkansas. It was a rainy, very windy day with wind
gusts over 40 mph at times at the nearby Stuttgart, Arkansas airport.
All photos were taken from inside the Central Delta Depot Museum's
(former Rock Island/Cotton Belt depot) old ticket office, where I
volunteer on some, but not all, Saturdays. These trains
usually
go at track speed past the depot and by the time I hear them blowing
for the crossing, they're right on me, so I have to hurry to the
window.
Motive power today includes: UP 7552, 5536, 3255,
4700,
2961, 6790, 5364 *** Rio Grande 8599-patched *** SP 161-unpatched, I
think *** NS 2358 *** CSX 7792. Also, some John Deere tractors on a
flatcar. (All photos by
Ken
Ziegenbein using a Sony
Cyber-Shot R1 digital camera, 10.3 megapixels). APRIL
30, 2006
LITTLE ROCK - Sunday, April 30, 2006 at the station
in Little Rock plus at the
Little Rock National
Airport for a couple of airplane shots. Included today: UP 4391, 5202,
8135, 7263, 2838, 4572, 5016. Plus a pipe load and truck frames. Also a
shot of a C-130 and DC-3 at an air show I went to in the middle of my
train watching.
UP HERITAGE 1988 (KATY) NORTH
LITTLE ROCK
MAY 3, 2006 - UP Heritage Locomotive No. 1988
(KATY)
at UP's North Little Rock, Arkansas yard (Ramp No. 2) Wednesday
morning, May 3, 2006. The number 3 traction motor was changed
(according to John C. Jones who took me to the site). It was
unclear
when it will be released for service. (Ken Ziegenbein photos)
UP YARDS NORTH LITTLE ROCK MAY 3,
2006
- U.P.'s extensive yards in North Little
Rock, Arkansas are off-limits to the general public, but John C. Jones
of the Arkansas Railroad Club has permission to photograph and be on
the property (his photos have been published in UP's newsletters and
fliers), so when he called me on May 3, 2006 telling me about the UP
Heritage KATY unit No. 1988 being in a great position to photograph in
the yard, I took him up on it. He then took me on a quick tour of the
yard area. Below are some photos I did during this excursion.
(All photos below were
taken by me, Ken
Ziegenbein)
MAY 14, 2006 LITTLE ROCK
-
Couldn't make it to Union Station in
Little Rock this morning (Sunday, May 14, 2006) but did manage to get
there in the late afternoon and got a couple of trains. I also put in
two trains I photographed on Saturday, May 13, at Brinkley.
Included on both Saturday and Sunday: UP: 3865, 5495, 4118,
5296,
1865 *** GATX 7321 *** CSX 7373, 8542 *** MKT red gondola 16334 ***
gray IC boxcar with graffiti *** a line of new hoppers.
MAY 23, 2006 - UP 844 MARSHALL,
TEXAS
- UP 844 steam locomotive arrived in Marshall, Texas at 12:59 p.m.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006. Here's a few photos. (You may
download and
print pictures for personal use, but do not sell or place on another
website without asking me. Thanks.)
MILLER
LITE BEER 'TASTE EXPRESS' Marshall, TX MAY 23, 2006 - Miller
Lite's "Save The Taste" special cars were on the rear of Amtrak 22, the
Texas Eagle, at Marshall, Texas Tuesday night, May 23, 2006 at 10:20
p.m. I used my high-speed (3200 ISO) setting, so they are grainy.
MAY
23, 24, 25 2006 - UP 844 Marshall, TEXAS TO LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS
-
On Tuesday, May 23, 2006, UP 844 arrived in Marshall, Texas and on
Wednesday, May 24, 2006, we followed the 844 from Marshall, Texas to
Little Rock, Arkansas. Here are some pictures and comments. (Ken
Ziegenbein photos - you may download or print any photo for personal
use but do not put on another website or sell without asking
permission. Thanks.) UP 844
NORTH
LITTLE ROCK TO RUSSELLVILLE, ARKANSAS MAY 26, 2006 - UP
844's day in Arkansas between North Little Rock and Russellville,
including its exit from the north portal of the Conway Tunnel. There is
also a large-format MPEG movie of the tunnel exit.
All
photos by Ken Ziegenbein. You may
download and
print pictures for personal use, but do not sell or place on another
website without asking me. Thanks.
UP
844
CROSSING TRESTLE WITH FISHING BOAT MAY 26, 2006 - I
came
across this scene by accident as 844 traveled past Palarm Creek
off Highway 365 on its way from North Little Rock to Conway,
Arkansas on Friday, May 26, 2006. The time was 9:12 a.m. I caught a
fishing boat in that lily-pad covered lake and the short trestle and
knowing 844 was just behind me, I pulled off, took my light readings,
focused and the train zipped by. Couldn't have planned it better. (Ken
Ziegenbein photo) (You may
download and
print pictures for personal use, but do not sell or place on another
website without asking me. Thanks..)
ROCKDALE
TEXAS DEPOT CELEBRATION JUNE 10, 2006 - On
Friday, June 10,
2006, the city of
Rockdale, Texas celebrated the 100th anniversary of the IGN depot
there, along with school reunions. Below are some photos of
the
event including the restored Rockdale depot inside and out, a caboose
and a former Missouri Pacific dining car with many fixtures and the
kitchen still as they were when the MoPac ceased running it in the
1960s. According to the newspaper article posted in the Rockdale
Reporter, this dining car was brought to Rockdale in June 2005 from the
Callahan Ranch near Laredo, Texas where it was used in the 1970s to fix
meals for truck drivers and deer hunters.
The dining car was delivered to the Missouri
Pacific in
1946 and it ran mostly on the Colorado Eagle until 1966 when the train
was discontinued. However, it may have run on other MoPac trains back
then as well (maybe even the Valley Eagle, which I remember riding in
the early 1960s). The MoPac Buzzsaw is still visible on the
side
with Number 230 under it. Some of the faded blue paint is also visible.
A number board on the left side reads either 36 or 86, I'm not sure. No
restoration work was done on this car as of this writing but they plan
to restore it to original condition.
On my way out of town on Hwy 79, I spotted an old
freight
house now being used as a salon on Texas Street. Mr. Vester
L.
Crocker of Crocker's Reclamation and Maintenance was there and showed
me some pictures (also on this webpage) of the depot and grounds in the
1800s when it was the S.A. & A.P. Railway (San Antonio & Arkansas
Pass Railway),
which used to run from Rockdale northward.
There's also a couple of UP train shots on this
site, one
passing the Rockdale depot. (All
photos by Ken Ziegenbein - if you use these anywhere else, let me know
by emailing me)
NEW ULM, TEXAS UP ROCK TRAINS
JUNE 11, 2006
- Rock trains through New Ulm, Texas
June 11, 2006 plus a night train photo June 12 and a train through
Jacksonville, Texas June 13.
JUNE 18, 2006 LITTLE ROCK/BRINKLEY
- Saturday, June 17 at Brinkley,
Arkansas and Sunday, June 18, 2006 at Union Station in Little
Rock, Arkansas. Of special interest are two TFM locomotives
(1411
and 1418) in tandem on one train and UP 1982 (MoPac Heritage) on the
head end of another train, both passing the Little Rock station on June
18. It was drizzly in Little Rock, but pouring rain at times in
Brinkley.
Locomotive today include: BNSF 6876, 2299, 2299
*** UP
4720, 1839, 5397, 1982, 3465, 6036, 4489, 5025 *** EMDX 6272 *** SP
6272 *** NS 9504 *** CSX 8328 ***TMF 1411, 1418. JUNE
19, 2006
- John Reagon of Camden Arkansas sent me this photo of SP
7666
(lettered 'SOUTH PACIFIC') and said I could post it on Trainorders and
Railspot. Mr. Reagon took the photo June 19, 2006 in the UP Camden, AR
Yard. It's been on the Camden Local for two weeks, according to Mr.
Reagon. (Ken Ziegenbein)
UP 1982 BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS JUNE
21, 2006
- UP 1982 southbound passing Brinkley, Arkansas Wednesday, June 21,
2006 at 12:50 p.m cdt. Many thanks to Zach Pumphery of Missouri, who
emailed me that it had passed Malden, Missouri at 9 a.m. I then drove
to Brinkley to get it passing the Central Delta Depot Museum, former
Cotton Belt/Rock Island depot, that the UP donated to the city of
Brinkley in 2001. (Ken Ziegenbein photo-copyright June 2006 -
do
not put on any other website without my permission)
FLOWERS-TRAINS-BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS
JUNE 24,
2006
- Flowers and trains at Brinkley, Arkansas Saturday, June 24, 2006.
Some pictures were taken from inside looking out the windows of the old
Rock Island baggage room (now a conference center in the restored
depot). Locomotives today: BNSF 713 *** NS 9939, 8959, 6068 (Operation
Lifesaver) *** UP 4014, 5090, 3259 *** CEFX 3146 *** Wisconsin Central
6002 *** CN 6140 *** CSX 8052, 8357, 8030. Yellow UP locomotives - 3,
non-yellow leased, owned or trackage rights locomotives - 10 (at least
of those I photographed today).
JUNE 25, 2006 LITTLE ROCK
-
SUNDAY, JUNE 25, 2006 at Union Station in Little Rock. It was raining
heavily about 11 a.m. when I got a crew change at the station. Included
today are a couple of shots of the station, one showing a train passing
through the arches, plus these locomotives: UP2304, 5384, 8923, 1889
*** GECALSTHOM 6065 *** BCRAIL car with wood *** Former SP 7905 ***
Conrail 8321 *** Faded MoPac buzzsaw on hopper 722473.
JULY 2, 2006
- July 2, 2006 at
Union Station in Little Rock, plus a couple of photos from Brinkley on
July 1. Included today: UP 1982 (MoPac Heritage), UP: 5358, 1865, 9622,
1982, 4217, 5067, 4613 *** BNSF 4333 *** NS 9854 *** SP 8777 *** TFM
1409, 1422 *** HLCX 6313 *** WP Hi-Cube boxcar 86073. HAPPY FOURTH!!!
Thought I'd put a few fireworks on the site.
JULY 9, 2006 - RARE SW1200 MOP
SWITCHER
TAKEN BY JOHN C. JONES - The following photos
were taken by
Arkansas Railroad Club member John C. Jones, who has permission to be
on UP property. It shows HA 1256, clearly a former Missouri Pacific
switcher. (Norm Metcalf said that Jones' picture of HA 1256, nee MP
1256 is an SW1200 which was sold to Tri-State Concrete,
Shreveport LA on 17 Jul 1985...per Don Strack's roster at
http://utahrails.net ) Randy Keller gives more details:
s/n: 31229 b/d: Feb66 o/n: 4492-4
MP SW1200 1256, retired Jun85.
Tri-States Concrete Co. (MP 1256), Shreveport, LA, acquired 17Jul85,
remained in full MP paint and lettering.
Gifford-Hill & Co. (MP 1256), Bossier City, LA, acquired Jan88,
remained in full MP paint and lettering.
Gifford-Hill & Co. (MP 1256), Delight, AR,
transferred 1990,
remained in full MP paint and lettering. Plant closed Jan01.
Gifford-Hill was owned by Hanson, so the "HA"
probably
stands for Hanson Aggregates. My notes for G-H Bossier City,
LA
call it Cart
Yard, so it looks like it is heading "back home." (Randy Keller)
The photos were taken in North Little Rock,
Arkansas on
July 7, 2006. It was scheduled to be in Pine Bluff July 9 and arrive in
Lufkin, Texas July 10 around 11:48 a.m. on MPBSR. Final destination
Cart, Louisiana on July 13. It originated in Boughton, Arkansas July 5.
All photos by John C. Jones, who gave me permission to put on this site.
JULY 8-16, 2006
- Photos from
July 8, 9, 15 and 16, 2006 of various trains in Brinkley and Little
Rock, Arkansas. Of special interest is unpatched SP 9755, MMA (Montreal
Maine & Atlantic) boxcar and a Montana Rail Link boxcar.
Included
are photos of: UP: 9557, 4898, UPY 1431 (former SP?), 1855, 6724, 5972,
3341, 1930, 4512, 6836, 8238, 4604, 5969, 6746, 5547, 9389, 1825, 1851,
6605, 9494, 3762 **** GCFX 3054 **** HLCX 6086 **** LLPX GP40-2 DEMO
4405 **** CN 6110 **** CONRAIL 6734 **** CSX 4734, 8094 ****
N&W
OPERATION LIFESAVER 6707 **** NS 8863, 9023 **** SP UNPATCHED 9755,
6359, 6410, 2665 **** BNSF 5336.
ROLLING STOCK: D&H gondola?, long string of new STOX
hoppers
passing Brinkley July 15, GOLDEN WEST SERVICE boxcars,
hoppers
and gondolas, CP gondola, MoPac Buzzsaw boxcars, Montana Rail Link
boxcar, Rock Island hoppers, MMA boxcar (Montreal Maine &
Atlantic). Also a photo of a lone stalk of corn growing along UP's main
line at Union Station in Little Rock. (All photos by Ken Ziegenbein)
NEW STREETCAR NO. 412 ARRIVES
LITTLE ROCK
JULY 18, 2006 - Central Arkansas Transit's fifth
streetcar was delivered Tuesday, July 18, 2006 to the carbarn at 7th
and Main in North Little Rock. It came from Gomaco in Ida
Grove,
Iowa. After they delivered the 412, Number 410 was taken to
the
bus barn for storage until it's needed later in 2006 once the line to
the Clinton Library and Heifer International is ready. They don't have
enough closed space at the streetcar barn for 5 streetcars.
These are all rather large photos, reduced to either 700 or 1000 pixels
wide, so it might take a little while to view, especially if you have
dialup (my original
photos are 3,888
pixels wide - 10.3 megapixels). Although I usually create
two
webpages per subject, one with thumbnail images that you can click on
to enlarge and the other for broadband users that show all photos in a
larger format (like this one), having 66 photos would have taken me too
long to do both. Some of the pictures are for archive purposes, such as
showing the
streetcar being rolled off the truck-trailer to the tracks step by
step. As a result, there are 66 photos. (All photos taken by Ken
Ziegenbein)
JULY 30, 2006
- A few shots
(only 7) taken at the
Amtrak station in Little Rock Sunday, July 30, 2006. Of special
interest: Rare KATY red emblem on an old gondola. I haven't seen any of
these in person for at least 15 years although I knew they are
scattered about. Also a bright yellow UP locomotive with "We Will
Deliver" on the side. It looks almost freshly painted. Specifics:
UP4683, 8135, 1855, 3282 and 3401 ('We will deliver' lettering).
Gondola BKTY 121496 with the KATY Emblem. A slow day.
AUGUST
5,
2006 - Saturday, August 5, 2006 at the
Brinkley Depot Museum in Brinkley, Arkansas. Trains today included: CSX
8435, 8761 *** BNSF 4736, 5940, 5824, 8862 *** UP 4312, 5109, 1889,
1836, 3098 *** CN 6103 *** SP 8310 *** CEFX 2789.
10-HOUR
LATE AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE NO. 22 AUGUST 12, 2006 - Amtrak's
Texas Eagle (No. 22) was 10 hours late into Little Rock Saturday,
August 12, 2006. It was supposed to arrive at midnight the night
before, but didn't get to Little Rock until 9:47 a.m.. There was still
a good crowd of people getting on. No. 22 is the northbound Eagle from
San Antonio-Austin-Dallas heading to Chicago. I think this was one of
the days the Eagle connected with the Sunset Limited in San Antonio, so
the last two cars were from Los Angeles. Here is the consist I got from
zooming in to my photos, so some numbers may not be correct: Locomotive
74, Transition Sleeper 39039, Diner(?) 38066(?), Lounge 33003, Coach
31041, Coach (can't read number), Coach 340??, Sleeper 32005.
I've also included some photos of Union Station in
Little
Rock, the renovated former Missouri Pacific station. It now rents out
to various businesses and I understand most of the offices are
occupied. The Amtrak waiting room is at track level. Also Saturday
afternoon, Amtrak Sleeper 32040 was on a freight train passing Union
Station, being carried to shops for fixing up after it sideswiped a
freight outside Dallas a few days ago.
AUGUST 12, 2006
- Saturday,
August 12, 2006 at Union Station in Little Rock. Of interest today: UP
Track Inspection Vehicle EC-4 *** UP 2198, 1889, 9231, 3753,9489, 9363,
8404, 8105 *** LTEX 3905 *** CSX 8482 *** HLCX 6075 *** TFM 1407 ***
GECX 2868 *** MP Scale Monitor Car *** Chessie Cat hopper *** NdeM
boxcar *** Rock Island blue hopper.
UP
HERITAGE UNITS 1982, 1988 ON SAME TRAIN AUGUST 15, 2006 - UP
Heritage Locomotive 1982 (MoPac), UP 2241 and Heritage
Locomotive
1988 (Katy) were leading a train into North Little Rock, Arkansas at
3:20 p.m. August 15, 1006. These scenes were taken from Railroad Avenue
(Levy Section) of North Little Rock at the Pershing Street
overpass. Unfortunately, the front hatch of the lead 1982 was
half open. Apparently, the train went into emergency at Marche,
Arkansas (about a half hour from North Little Rock) delaying the train
until mid afternoon. It had passed Conway, Arkansas (30 miles
north) shortly after 11 in the morning (Ken Ziegenbein photos)
BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS AUGUST 19, 2006
- Tuesday, August 15 in North Little Rock, Arkansas and Saturday,
August 19, 2006 in Brinkley, Arkansas. Interesting locomotive through
Brinkley August 19 was a CN grey unit with yellow nose stripes,
lettered G.T.W. below the cab (No. 5942). Also included are the
following locomotives: UP 6508, 6746, 9530, 1538, 5038, 9475, 5439,
2893 *** HLCX 8138 *** SP 6313 *** NS 9839, 9529 *** CSX 7396, 8070 ***
CR 7310, 7303. Plus a D&H hopper and a Wisconsin Central
boxcar.
(Photos by Ken Ziegenbein)
AUGUST 20, 2006 LITTLE ROCK
-
Sunday, August 20, 2006 (one week ago from the time I put this online)
at Union Station in Little Rock. I didn't put in all the trains I
photographed, just the more interesting ones. Today's trains:
HLCX 6148 *** GECX(SP) 8678 *** SP Unpatched 8576 *** UP 3788, 9231 ***
NS 6676 *** BNSF 4730 *** EMD 9042 *** Golden West Hi-Cube boxcar,
regular boxcar, hopper *** SP long Hy-Cube Cushion-Car 615528 *** Solid
long train of nearly new BNSF hoppers. (Photos by Ken
Ziegenbein
Aug 20)
SEPTEMBER 10, 2006 IN LITTLE ROCK
- Sunday, September 10, 2006 at the Amtrak station (Union Station) in
Little Rock, Arkansas. Might as well have been in the Carolinas since
Norfolk Southern was the locomotive of choice today. Not too
many
trains. Included today: NS 9035, 6648, 9199, 8818 *** CEFX 3164 ***
Rolling stock: Berlin (?) Mills box, A&NR box, Rock Island box,
Golden West boxcars, including one a rusty brown *** View of the Baring
Cross UP Bridge from the west across the Arkansas River, taken from our
new Arkansas Railroad Club monthly meeting site, Curtis Stout off
Cantrell Road.
BUSH
UNIT
4141 ON RARE TRIP THROUGH ARKANSAS SEPTEMBER 22, 2006 - UP
4141, the Bush Presidential Library locomotive, made an appearance in
North Little Rock, Arkansas Friday, September 22, 2006 in the UP yards.
I understand it was on its way to Kansas City, heading a mixed freight,
to be displayed there along with Heritage Locomotives 1988 (Katy), 1982
(Missouri Pacific) and UP Steam Locomotive 844.
Special thanks to those who gave me a 'heads up'
about
this locomotive's move. Thanks also to UP/Arkansas Railroad Club
photographer John C. Jones for getting me into the busy UP yards in
North Little Rock. (Ken Ziegenbein photos)
SEPTEMBER 24, 2006 LITTLE ROCK
-
Thursday, September 21, Saturday, September 22, and Sunday, September
24, 2006 at Union Station in Little Rock. Of special interest: two SP
tank cars, a pure KCS-powered train on Sunday, two BNSF trains on
Sunday, two trains using the Amtrak siding on Saturday (up close and
personal). Saturday started out hot and humid - 82 degrees at 9 a.m. -
and ended cooler and drier after a line of strong thunderstorms moved
through. Sunday was cool and breezy with a deep blue sky. There are 20
photos in all.
Included photos: SP tank cars 67312 and 67321
(with faded
SP colors) *** CNW 40-year old hopper PS-2 4427 No. 96185 *** UP 2855,
1836, 3680, 4925, 5112, 9409 *** KCS ACe 4029, SD40-2 662 ***BNSF 9734,
4482 *** Santa Fe lettering 8716, 6955 *** Conrail 8395 *** NS 9529 ***
CSX 664. (Ken Ziegenbein photos)
TEMPLE TEXAS HERITAGE DEPOT
MUSEUM OCTOBER
15, 2006 - I had the opportunity to tour the
Railroad &
Heritage Museum in Temple, Texas on Sunday afternoon, October 15, 2006.
They had a telegraph demonstration that was excellent and showed us
their extensive archive collections, some from the Santa Fe Historical
and Modeling Society. Thanks to Jeremy Krauss for inviting me
to
come and to Museum Curator Mary Irving. The website for the
museum is: http://www.rrhm.org/
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE TRIP OCT 12
AND 16, 2006
- On October 12, 2006, I took a trip on Amtrak's Texas Eagle
No.
21 from Little Rock, Arkansas to Temple, Texas, returning Temple to
Little Rock on Monday, October 16 on Amtrak No. 22. Here are a few
photos from that trip, including a spectacular sunrise from the train
while between Prescott, Arkansas and Texarkana, Arkansas/Texas on
October 12. I also got a great shot of the Dallas skyline reflected
from the glass of the Reunion Tower Hilton from my coach seat on
October 16. Also a shot of LLPX No. 2272 at Texarkana on October 12 - a
blue and white locomotive looking a lot like the old Rock Island paint
scheme.
The train left Little Rock about an hour late at
5:20 a.m.
October 12. There was a lady traveling the country on Amtrak from Great
Britain who boarded at Little Rock. On the return trip, a man from
Australia got off in Little Rock who was also traveling the country via
Amtrak. He was eventually headed to Canada.
Also on the return trip, a grandmother got on in
Temple on
her first train trip in years, going to Malvern, Arkansas to visit
grandkids. She was calling her children from a cell phone from the
coach seat and was saying that she was loving the trip and they all
talked about taking the grandkids on an Amtrak trip in the next few
months to visit her in Temple. Her family here in Arkansas was supposed
to meet her at the Malvern station and she kept calling them and they
said they'd be there. However, as I looked out the train window when
the train finally arrived at Malvern at 1 a.m. October 17, I couldn't
see anyone there to meet her, although I assume they were out of view.
The Malvern station isn't that easy to find for first time visitors. I
was worried about her being there alone that time of night - Malvern is
an unmanned station with waiting provided in an area on the west side
of the depot. I hope she made it ok.
All these photos by Ken Ziegenbein.
OCTOBER 21 AND 22, 2006 BRINKLEY
AND LITTLE
ROCK - Here a just a few shots I took in
Brinkley, Arkansas
on Saturday, October 21 and one photo from Little Rock on October 22,
2006. Included are: UP 4778, 4640, UPY 928 *** Conrail 7493 ***
Wisconsin Central 7638 in perfect lighting. *** FURX 3013l *** Flag
decals on a tank car.
NEW STREETCAR TRACKS LITTLE ROCK
OCTOBER
26, 2006 - On October 26, 2006, the final tracks
were laid
for the Central Arkansas Transit's streetcar line out to the Clinton
Presidential Center and the Heifer International Center in Little Rock.
This will add about three-quarter mile to the already existing two mile
system and is expected to increase ridership significantly when it
opens. Opening day is supposed to be the first part of January
2007. I've heard that ridership on the 2 streetcars running
at
any one time (out of a total of 5 streetcars that C.A.T. owns-
Nos. 408, 409, 410, 411 and 412) have carried just over
290,000
passengers since the system opened in the Fall of 2004. (Photos taken
by Ken Ziegenbein)
OCTOBER 29, 2006 AT LITTLE ROCK
- Sunday, October 29, 2006 at Union Station in Little Rock. Sunny day.
Included today: UP 4868, 4570, 1539, 3390 *** NS 8940 ***
long
string of new tank cars *** Golden West boxcars *** CSX boxcars.
SIGNAL AT UNION STATION LITTLE
ROCK
NOVEMBER 7, 2006 - Here's some
closeups/measurements of a
signal on the Amtrak siding at Little Rock, Arkansas' Union Station. It
was requested that I do so. These were taken November 7, 2006 by Ken
Ziegenbein.
1974 ARKANSAS RAILROAD PHOTOS -
MAINLY
ABANDONED ROADBEDS, DEPOTS - Here is a
collection of photos
I took, mainly in 1974, of Arkansas railroad rights-of-way, some still
containing track, some showing only the roadbeds (only one or two
rolling stock). There were a few still in use, but these
photos
just show the track and any stations that were around then (32 years
ago when this site was put online in November of 2006). These photo
trips were inspired by Gene Hull's book "Shortline Railroads of
Arkansas," first edition, printed in 1969.
I've created a separate web page of each line for
quicker
viewing. One thing to keep in mind....back in 1974, a standard way of
printing was to use a matte photo paper, and that's how all these were
printed (I don't know where the negatives are). As a result, you'll see
some lines in each photo of the matted surface of the photo paper.
There are 25 current and long-gone railroads listed. All photos taken
by Ken Ziegenbein. This webpage Copyright Ken Ziegenbein.
NEW ULM, TEXAS KATY DEPOT 1955
AND 1960
- Here are two photos I found in a shoebox I took of the Katy depot in
New Ulm, Texas - one taken from across the field in August 1955 and the
other showing lots of freight cars on a siding taken in January
1960. Photos by Ken Ziegenbein.
Taken August 1955 by my Kodak Brownie camera.
Scene is
taken from the street that ran in front of the New Ulm, Texas bank,
looking to the south-southeast. The main line ran on the other side of
the depot with the signal, but there was a long siding on the near side
of the depot (see next photo) as well. There were also 3 siding tracks
on the other side of the main line (which are still there, but the
siding on the near side has long been taken up). The depot was manned
at the time, at least in the daytime, since the owner of a bar to my
left (owned by the sheriff in the area, who's name was Elo Zeiner I
believe) would leave the bar and drive his patrol car there to meet the
passenger train and pick up the US Mail. He did this every day.
In my May 1, 1950 Katy Timetable, it shows the
Bluebonnet
arriving at 4:53 p.m. headed for Houston and the west/north bound
Bluebonnet arriving at 10:41 a.m. each day. I don't know if these
schedules changed by 1955 or not. (See timetable for this line below)
The track was in pretty good shape when this shot
was
taken in 1955, but deteriorated rapidly by the 1960s. Union Pacific now
owns the line and had their large work crew (buses of workers) do major
work on the main line AND the sidings in 2003 or 2004. It is now
(November 2006) in the best shape I ever remember it being with rock
trains speeding through town I'd estimate at 45 or 50 mph or a little
more (I know I can't beat a train to nearby Cat Springs or even Sealy).
The depot is still partially in existence today, I
understand - it's part of a larger house and you can't really see any
depot shape in it anymore, but one room of the house used to be part of
the depot. It's several miles out in the country. I haven't viewed it
there for years, so maybe things have changed.
NOVEMBER 24, 2006 - PLUS 1996
PHOTOS OF UP
OLYMPIC LOCO 1996 - Here are a few photos taken
in Little
Rock, Arkansas, the first one I took in 1996 of the Olympic UP 1996,
painted green for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Others were taken
in
in November, 2006. Included are: UP 1996 Olympic Unit *** CSX 289 ***
UP 9509, 5221, 3309 *** CEFX 3166 *** Rio Grande patched 8612 *** NS
2777.
NOVEMBER 26, 2006 LITTLE ROCK
-
Some train scenes in Little Rock on November 26, 2006, plus a Little
Rock trolley shot and abandoned Rock Island instrument/tool shelter
near Hazen, Arkansas. The Little Rock streetcars have carried about
290,000 passengers since it opened the 2.5 mile line in November of
2004. Included today: UP 3863, 9423, 4887 *** SP 8777, 2724,
8678
*** CSX 8485 *** NS 9093 *** Santa Fe 6352 *** Rolling Stock: Cedar
Rapids and Iowa City Railway hopper *** 'I Love NY' boxcar *** SP
Hy-Cube boxcar *** NdeM boxcar *** Rio Grande hopper *** Deer antlers
graffiti on a flatcar *** DME boxcar *** DME hopper.
BRINKLEY DECEMBER 2, 2006
-
Saturday, December 2, 2006 in Brinkley, Arkansas - a cold day with
temperatures in the upper 30s and snow on some freight cars. Included
today: Brilliant sunrise over a swamp and lake on my way to the
Brinkley depot *** UP 3434 with a very loud horn *** NS 8923 ***
Conrail 8332 *** UP 4340 *** UP 4308 *** UP 8430 *** snow on black tank
car and flat cars *** sky filled with geese over the depot.
DECEMBER 9, 10, 2006 LITTLE ROCK
- A few photos of trains passing Union Station in Little Rock,
Saturday,
December 9 and Sunday, December 10, 2006. Of special interest was long
string of Canadian grain hoppers on one train. Included today: UP 1851,
9393, 6887, 9531, 9252 *** CEFX 7097 *** NS 9667 *** HLCX 3827 *** LLPX
2203 *** Wisconsin Central Boxcar, GT blue HyCubes, CNW hoppers, Cotton
Belt hopper, lots of Canada-related hoppers on one train (I counted 45
in my photographs). Later in the afternoon, I got a glistening sun
reflection from rails.
UP SPECIAL LITTLE ROCK DECEMBER
18, 2006
- On December 18, 2006, Union Pacific ran a special 13-car passenger
train from Fort Worth, Texas to North Little Rock, Arkansas. UP head
Dick Davidson was on board along with other dignitaries. The special
was being operated along various UP routes across the country and I
heard it was a 'last tour' by Davidson. It was a dark, cloudy day and I
had some trouble focusing as the train passed Union Station in Little
Rock at 4:38 p.m., but got better pictures later after it parked at
Jenks in North Little Rock. It had left Fort Worth about 9 that
morning, taking 7 hours and 38 minutes to make the run. Thanks to John
C. Jones for his help in pointing out photo opportunities.
Consist of the special: UP 1982 (Heritage Missouri
Pacific) - UP 1988 (Heritage Katy) - UP 208 (power car?) - Car
"Cabarton" - UP 200 "Omaha" - UP 1602 "Green River" - UP 101
"Lone Star" - UP 5779 "Promontory" - UPP 207 - UP 106 "Shoshone" - UP
201 "Wyoming" - UP 1605 " Powder River" - UP 9004 "Harriman" - UP 302
"Overland" - UP 420 "Fox River." (All photos by Ken Ziegenbein)
DECEMBER 23, 2006 MOSTLY AT
BRINKLEY,
ARKANSAS - For some Christmas fun, most of these
pictures
will have some fun things added to them electronically. See if you can
find all of the special effects, not directly related to the trains. Of
interest today, Christmas decorated Hazen and Brinkley, Arkansas
depots, locomotives: UP 9474, 9733, 9531, 4859, 8441 *** CSX
8500
*** HLCX 8153 *** IC 3140 ***
CEFS 7097.
READER
RAILROAD PHOTOS - These scenes from the Reader Railroad at
Reader,
Arkansas were taken December 16 and December 26, 2006 by John Reagon,
who gave me (Ken Ziegenbein) permission to put them on this website.
The only thing I did was lighten up a few shadows. Mr. Reagon's email
address is: john_reagon@hotmail.com
A movie company is using some Reader Railroad
rolling
stock for a movie being filmed in New Mexico called "3:10 to Yuma," a
remake of the famous western. John Reagon said in an email: "Entering
Reader (December 26), I noticed they had already put a boxcar on a
Tractor Trailer Flatbed, The Coaches are painted in Yellow and Black
and have "Southern Pacific" on them. The Steam Locomotive was still in
the roundhouse, but under fire building pressure (this was at 10:30
A.M.) They are going run it down the tracks to the old turntable, turn
it around and run thru Reader (Old Town Reader) to a "new" siding where
they can load it onto a Trailer. The Movie is called "3:10 to Yuma" (a
Western Remake) "
DECEMBER
31, 2006 LITTLE ROCK - SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2006 at Union
Station in Little Rock. It was alternating sunny and cloudy,
but
mild with temperature about 50. I spotted a small Fall-colored shrub
trackside, even at this late date. Seen today: UP 4850, 9427,6674,
9885, 9402, 9491, 3130, 4303 *** HLCX 5989 *** CSX 4763 *** GECX (SP)
856 *** CN 5334 *** YARR gondola 128 *** New shiny UP autorack.
*
* * * * * * * * *
2007
BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS SATURDAY,
JANUARY 6, 2007
- Saturday, January 6, 2007 at Brinkley, Arkansas taken from the
Central Delta Depot Museum (former Cotton Belt/Rock Island union
depot). Of interest today: A long rock/rip-rap train with ballast cars
at the end. Also, locomotives: UP(SP) 2745, UP 9788, 9470, 4170, 4766,
4953, 2722 *** NS 8946 *** TFM 2623 *** CSX 8838, 8824 *** Conrail 8439
*** Old Rock Island boxcar *** GNRR (Southern) ribbed-sided boxcar
30063.
HERITAGE LOCOMOTIVES 1988-1982 AT
NIGHT IN
LITTLE ROCK JANUARY 7, 2007 - Just after
midnight Saturday
night, January 6, 2007 (12:12 a.m. January 7), I caught UP Heritage
1988 (leading) and 1982 passing Union Station in Little Rock. This
Chicago-bound train waited around the curve south of Union Station
until Amtrak's Texas Eagle, No. 22, left the station around midnight. I
used my high-intensity flash with ISO of 3200, so enlarging the photos
will show grain. It started to rain right after the 1988
left.
(Ken Ziegenbein photo)
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS JANUARY 21,
2007
- A dark cold day at Little Rock, Arkansas' Union Station. Only 6
photos today: UP 7123, 7092 *** NS 9441 *** Rock Island (CNW) hoppers,
plus hundreds of pigeons.
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS FEBRUARY 4
AND
EARLIER, 2007 - Sunday, February 4, 2007 and a
couple of
shots on previous days at Little Rock, Arkansas. A couple of
these photos will have a thing or two added to the photo by Paint Shop
Pro, but I'll be sure to let you know by putting PSP in the caption.
None of these enhancements will change the colors or look of the
locomotives (except the last two), but keep an eye on the side of the
tracks. The last two photos are just color enhanced scenes
and
trains, sort of surreal looking. Photos on this page will only be in
the larger format (most around 100 kb each in size or less). I won't
use the thumbnail 'click to enlarge' images unless I have 20 or more
photos. There are less than 20 in this webpage.
Locomotives and cars today include: UP 9504, 3252,
5968,
4358 *** HLCX 9006 *** CEFX 3117 *** Fallen Flag freightcars: CNW
yellow, CNW green hoppers *** BN faded greed hopper *** a green Golden
West boxcar (this was a faded blue that was partially repainted in
bright green) *** SP Hi-cube *** UP Hi-cube with old UP map and logo,
faded *** Maryland & Pennsylvania boxcar *** Southwest Airline
jet
overhead on way to Dallas *** Amtrak Texas Eagle No. 22 at the Little
Rock station January 29 with a large crowd getting on *** A couple of
color-enhanced photos of UP 6052, the DPU of an empty coal train,
January 26.
WHITE & BLACK RAILROAD
HISTORY/PHOTOS
FEBRUARY 9, 2007 - On Saturday, February 9,
2007, I drove on
Arkansas Highway 17 northbound between Cotton Plant to near Newport to
try and find the long-abandoned right of way of the Batesville
&
Brinkley Railroad, which became the White & Black River Valley
Railroad (which was leased to Rock Island in 1900). This little-known
line was chartered in 1881 and taken up in 1941. Gene Hull, author of
the book "Shortline Railroads of Arkansas," wrote the history of this
line, which is printed below along with the photos I did on February 9.
Special thanks to Bill D Jones and Francis Jones for helping me find
some of the old roadbed and where some depots and structures were
located. I could never have found these locations myself. Believe it or
not, there is still an old depot standing on this line in the town of
Weldon, but I think it's days are numbered after seeing it up close.(All the photo and captions are
by myself,
Ken Ziegenbein - Gene Hull wrote the story and history)
FEBRUARY
17, 2007 - BRINKLEY, AR -
Here are a few photos taken Saturday, February 17, 2007 at the Brinkley
Depot Museum in Brinkley, Arkansas. For several hours (9 a.m. to 11:28
a.m.) I could see trains in the distance waiting to move. I assume
there was trackwork somewhere south of Brinkley. The trains started
coming every 10 minutes or so after 11:28. Included today: NS 9885,
2528, 2548 *** UP 9240, 4949, 1982, 1988 (last two Heritage units).
Also, Santa Fe 908 in Warbonnet colors. I could not see any BNSF
markings on this locomotive. Am I missing something? (Photos by Ken
Ziegenbein)
FEBRUARY 26, 2007 - ARKANSAS
MIDLAND NORTH
LITTLE ROCK - I finally saw an Arkansas Midland
train on the
former Cotton Belt line along Arkansas Avenue in North Little Rock,
Arkansas, February 26, 2007. Here are some photos.
(All
photos by Ken Ziegenbein)
UP REEFERS STORED BY ARKANSAS
MIDLAND -
NORTH LITTLE ROCK FEB 26, 2007 - Dozens of Union
Pacific
white reefers on the Arkansas Midland track along Highway 165 in North
Little Rock, Arkansas on February 26, 2007. These are being stored for
UP. The line is the former Cotton Belt line that ran from North Little
Rock southward through England, Arkansas and on to Altheimer, Arkansas
with a connection with the main Blue Streak line of the Cotton Belt.
The line was taken up about 1990 and these reefers are stored right up
to the end of track.
It's amazingly hard to count white reefers since
they
blend into each other, plus the line runs under Interstate 440 so I had
to keep one eye on the road. When I drove south on Highway 165 I
counted 85 reefers. On the way back I counted only 76, so let's say
about 80 are stored. (All photos by Ken Ziegenbein)
MARCH 3, 2007 AT LITTLE ROCK
-
Saturday, March 3, 2007 at Little
Rock, Arkansas' Union Station. Included today: Little Rock &
Western 101 and 7736 *** UP 8323, 7326, 6776, 7218, 8050, 7334, 4343,
6493, 4101 *** D&RGW Hopper 15546. (Photos by Ken Ziegenbein)
TRAINS IN BRINKLEY AND LITTLE
ROCK MARCH 23
& 24, 2007 - TROLLEY AND CARS -
Saturday, March 24, 2007
at Brinkley,
Arkansas and a twilight shot at Union Station in Little Rock. Also an
example of the River Rail Trolley in automobile traffic in the River
Market in Little Rock earlier in March. Included today: UP 9625, 2830,
9532, 7003 *** CR 8440 *** NS 2609 *** GCFX 3101 *** CSX 8507. (All photos by Ken Ziegenbein)
MARCH 25, 2007 - LITTLE ROCK
UNION STATION
- Here's some photos
taken Sunday,
March 25, 2007 at Union Station in Little Rock. Of interest today is
another freight that used the Amtrak siding to get around
another
freight. This always means the heavy freight gets sort of 'up close and
personal' to us railfans standing on the Amtrak platform, although we
back up a little. It almost makes me want to grab onto a freight car
and become a hobo!
Locomotives and rolling stock today includes: A
great
painting of a fish on a car *** Clean C&NW Logo *** Rock Island
blue hopper *** UP 9404, 6881, 6497, 4463, 9519 *** FURX 8114 *** NS
8317 *** Faded Santa Fe Hi-Cube.
NEW
KCS
HERITAGE HOPPERS IN NORTH LITTLE ROCK MARCH 29, 2007-
Newly built and painted KCS Heritage-painted hoppers at the
UP
yard in North Little Rock, Arkansas, Thursday March 29, 2007 about
10:30 a.m. They were on their way to East St Louis, Illinois. They were
built at the ARI rail plant in Paragould, Arkansas. I also added CN
8011, GMTX 2685 and SP-GECX 8312. (Ken Ziegenbein photos).
(Thanks to John C. Jones for letting me know they were in town).
APRIL 1, 2007 - UNION STATION
LITTLE ROCK
- Sunday, April 1, 2007 at Little Rock,
Arkansas, Union Station. Bright, blue skies and a good number of
trains. Included today: UP 8613, 9538, 3786, 8632 (DGRW),
1930,
1337, 6634, 331 *** NS 8862, 9273, 2119, 9263 *** SP 9755 *** LLPX 4405
SD40-2 lettering *** MKT red gondola *** SP black&white emblem
on
gondola SP 36540 *** NORX
emblem *** Gondolas with NS lettered black covers *** Cryo-Trans
"Doraville" CRYX 5225 and "Allegheny Mountains." (Ken Ziegenbein photos)
STREETCAR/UP SWITCHING MOVE IN
SAME SHOT
APRIL 4, 2007 - Relatively rare photos of both a
UP
switching move and a Central Arkansas Transit River Rail Streetcar (in
the same photo) at Little Rock at the Clinton Library streetcar stop.
The date was Wednesday, April 4, 2007, about 3:30 p.m. The UP move was
shoving a loaded Canadian Pacific boxcar full of newsprint to the
printing facilities of the Arkansas
Democrat-Gazette, which is located next to the trolley
stop. The
UP locomotive was UPY 1337, the boxcar was Canadian Pacific No. 220592.
(Ken Ziegenbein photos)
BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS APRIL 4, 2007
- A near-record cold spell was gripping
much of the country from Texas to the East Coast this day (Saturday, April 7, 2007 - the
day before
Easter), including Arkansas. Low temperatures Saturday
morning
were in the teens in north Arkansas up to the lower and mid 30s over
the rest of the state. In Brinkley, there was a thin sheet of ice over
water in ditches when I got to the Brinkley Depot Museum at 8:30 a.m.
It was up to 40-45 degrees when I took some of these pictures, and wind
was gusting from the north as high as 30 mph.
Included today: UP 9506, 9519, 9515, 6582 *** HLCX
5995
*** CSX 9039 *** 'I Love NY' boxcar with 'I Love NY' graffiti ***
Chessie Cat
EASTER
SUNDAY AFTERNOON, APRIL 8, 2007 NORTH SIDE OF UNION STATION LITTLE ROCK
- Easter Sunday afternoon 2007 on the
north side of the track at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas. Just
a couple of trains, plus a shot of the Arkansas Queen Riverboat on an
Easter cruise on the Arkansas River. Of interest today: UP 8331, 2432,
9400, 7894 *** TFM 2617 *** Milwaukee Road gondola #92814 *** Wisconsin
Central gondola #62127. (Ken Ziegenbein)
BRINKLEY, AR APRIL 7, 2007
- A
near-record cold spell was gripping
much of the country from Texas to the East Coast this day (Saturday, April 7, 2007 - the
day before
Easter), including Arkansas. Low temperatures Saturday
morning
were in the teens in north Arkansas up to the lower and mid 30s over
the rest of the state. In Brinkley, there was a thin sheet of ice over
water in ditches when I got to the Brinkley Depot Museum at 8:30 a.m.
It was up to 40-45 degrees when I took some of these pictures, and wind
was gusting from the north as high as 30 mph.
Included today: UP 9506, 9519, 9515, 6582 *** HLCX
5995
*** CSX 9039 *** 'I Love NY' boxcar with 'I Love NY' graffiti ***
Chessie Cat
APRIL 28, 2007 - BRINKLEY, AR
-
Saturday, April 28, 2007 at Brinkley, Arkansas. Included today: CSX
7515, UP 5211, BNSF 4481, UP 9501, CEFX 2793 with red/white front
stripes, CN 5540, BNSF 8104, Santa Fe 6(?)99, BNSF green 6825, BNSF
2835, BNSF green 1495, Cute little BNSF Coil Car. (All photos by Ken
Ziegenbein)
APRIL 29, 2007 - LITTLE ROCK AND
BRINKLEY
- Sunday, April 29, 2007 at Little Rock AND Brinkley, Arkansas.
Included today: UP 9379, Pan Am boxcar. CN blue hi-cubes. UP
9733, CNW yellow hoppers, CEFX 3170, UPY 1337, 1389, patched
SP,
CN 2691, CN 5633. (All photos by Ken Ziegenbein)
BRINKLEY, AR - KATV'S 'DAYBREAK'
LIVE FROM
THE DEPOT 5-7 A.M. APRIL 30, 2007 - On Monday
morning, April
30, 2007, pre-dawn, KATV-TV, the Little Rock ABC affiliate, hosted it's
"Daybreak" program at the Central Delta Depot Museum, in Brinkley,
Arkansas. The show ran live from 5 to 7 a.m. with occasional cut-ins
from the museum, hosted by Kristi Fisher.
I arrived at the depot shortly before 4 a.m. and
museum
director Bill Sayger was already there. The set-up, camera person from
KATV arrived about 4:15, and the van with the rest of Channel 7's crew
arrived at 4:45 a.m. Following are photos of the event and some of the
many local people who showed up. There were also a few trains that
passed during the broadcast.
All the photos were taken by Ken Ziegenbein.
MAY 3, 2007 - BRINKLEY
- May 3,
2007 at Brinkley, Arkansas. Included today: BNSF 4481, UP 4338 and an
Ashley, Drew & Northern faded green boxcar.
MAY 4, 2007 - LITTLE ROCK
- May
4, 2007 at Union Station in Little Rock. Included today: UP-SP patched
2668, UP 9342, GT blue hi-cubes.
MAY 6, 2007 - LITTLE ROCK
-
Sunday, May 6, 2007 at Union Station
in Little Rock. Seen today: A new string of Midwest Ethanol Transport
tankers *** A work train with 5 flats containing modular rail *** A
couple of red double-truck flats *** UP 2858, 2794, 3921, 9735, 2240,
4354 *** HLCX 5966. (Ken Ziegenbein photos)
UP 4141 (BUSH UNIT), UP 1988
(KATY) AND UP
1982 (MOPAC) ON SAME TRAIN PINE BLUFF, AR MAY 7, 2007
-
UP4141 (George Bush), 1988 (Katy), 1982 (MoPac), 4452, 1835 and 2195
lead a very long mixed freight out of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Monday May
7, 2007 at 12:12 p.m. I got these shots at the Missouri Street crossing
starting at noon. The train was heading to Texas. To my knowledge, this
was the first time three of the special heritage and Bush units were
heading a train in Arkansas.
MAY 12, 2007 - BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS
- A stormy afternoon at Brinkley,
Arkansas on Saturday, May 12, 2007, plus some sunny morning shots.
Included today: UP 9296, 5692, 6448, 1807, 3866 **** NS 7506 ****
Storms with hail.
MAY 13, 2007 - LITTLE ROCK
-
Sunday, May 13, 2007, at Union Station
in Little Rock. Of interest today: Our bird mascot returns *** UP 5199,
9549, 5131, 9578, 4318, 333, 3990, UP 6175, a former SP with a faded
pink face with puckered red lips *** FURX 7940 *** TFM 2659 *** CEFX
7079 *** CSX 8370, 8483 *** NS 9006, 9067 *** MKT green gondola ***
Arkansas Midland, Western Pacific, KCS, Wisconsin Central boxcars ***
Cryo-Trans string of cars *** Rock Island hopper.
UP OPERATION LIFESAVER SPECIAL
LITTLE ROCK
MAY 14, 2007 - Union Pacific ran Operation
Lifesaver trips
across Arkansas the week of May 14, 2007. On Monday, May 14,
the
train ran some trips around Conway and went to North Little Rock for
the evening. Seen on this webpage is the train as it came to Union
Station on main #1, crossed over to main #2 at the turnout there, then
backed across the Baring Cross bridge to North Little rock, remaining
on main #2. Little Rock & Western was coming past the station
at
the same time as the Operation Lifesaver special.
The Operation Lifesaver special was open to the
public at
each of the towns it ran through (Monday, May 14 - Conway ** Tuesday,
May 15 - Wynne ** Wednesday, May 16 - Jonesboro ** Thursday,
May
17 - Stuttgart ** and Friday, May 18 - Camden. The train had a
locomotive on both ends and was operated as a push-pull through the
various towns, starting at 7:30 in the mornings.
Consist of this special was: UP 4889,
Car 205,
Feather River, Colorado Eagle, Katy Flyer, Columbine, Portland Rose,
and UP 3875. (All photos by Ken Ziegenbein - thanks to John
C.
Jones for the heads up regarding the move in front of Union Station.)
UP OPERATION LIFESAVER SPECIAL
THROUGH
BRINKLEY AND NEAR STUTTGART, ARKANSAS MAY 16, 2007
-
Wednesday, May 16, 2007. Union
Pacific's Operation Lifesaver train passes the Central Delta Depot
Museum in Brinkley, Arkansas with another few shots of it across a
green field near Stuttgart later in the day. Also, I ran into "Bullet
Bob" Smith at the Brinkley depot a couple of hours before the
Operation Lifesaver train appeared and we both saw a train pass with
FWWR 1400 in the consist. What was this locomotive doing here?
Included today: UP4889, UP3875, UP 9506, Conrail
6747,
FWWR 1400. (All photos by Copyright Ken Ziegenbein)
UP OPERATION LIFESAVER TRAIN
STUTTGART,
ARKANSAS MAY 17, 2007 - On Thursday, May 17,
2007, I got to
ride one of Union Pacific's Operation Lifesaver specials for a few
miles through Stuttgart, Arkansas. This was one of five trips UP ran
the week of May 14-18 throughout Arkansas. Here are some photos of this
trip, which was open to the public. About 35 boarded.
The trip was late getting started, about 941 a.m.
However,
everyone had a good time - at least for the first 30 minutes anyway.
One boy sitting at my table was really excited about riding a train
(his first) and was telling his grandmother about it on the cell phone.
After just one roundtrip, the train was put on a siding with about 35
passenger on board one of the dome cars, including lots of children
under 6 years old. It waited there for nearly 1 1/2 hours for 4
southbound freights to pass (Stuttgart is on UP's directional south
main). The children were getting uneasy and ansy, so it was decided to
call for cars to come pick us up and take us back to the place we had
all parked our cars (only about one mile west). UP special agents came
and took many back to their cars, while others called relatives to pick
them up. Probably not one of the best Operational Lifesaver trips
because of the delays, but it was educational. Stuttgart's mayor was
also on board.
I want to compliment John Holiman, Special Agent
from
Kansas City, and John Simpson, Manager of UP Public Safety, also from
Kansas City, who were superb hosts and handed out water to everyone and
got the cars lined up to take us back to the parking lot. Mr. Simpson
also gave an excellent safety presentation in the dome car, which,
after
all, is the purpose of these trips. At least everyone now realizes how
many train UP runs through that area! (Ken Ziegenbein)
CIRCUS TRAIN IN NORTH LITTLE ROCK
FOR
R&R - PHOTOS TAKEN MAY 20 AND 24, 2007 -
Here are a few
shots I did of the Blue
Unit Ringling Brothers-Barnum & Bailey Circus train in the
Union
Pacific yards in North Little Rock, Arkansas on May 20 and 24, 2007.
The train
is here on its mid-season R&R 19-day layover. Many of the
animals
are housed in nearby Barton Coliseum. They've done this at this
location several times in recent years. As of this writing (May 23),
the train will be here about another week and a half.
The train is parked in a very secure area, fenced
off on
the left from Central Arkansas Transit's bus barn, and on the right by
the very busy UP freight yard. My photos were taken from inside the
fence of the Transit's bus barn area and from the Main Street highway
overpass.
On Thursday, May 24, 2007, I took more pictures of
the
circus cars after they were moved a couple of hundred feet to
another area near 4th Street and Jenks Shops. These are at the bottom
of the page. (Ken
Ziegenbein photos)
MAY
24,
2007 at Little Rock -
Thursday,
May 24, 2007 at the station in
Little Rock. Included today: UP 5083, 5070, 3424 *** LRWN 7736, 101 ***
SP(UP) 7876, 7336 *** NS 9688 *** Old Santa Fe gondola and Northwestern
'Employee Owned' yellow hopper *** light blue ACFX hopper.
NORTH ARKANSAS-SOUTH MISSOURI
TRAIN CHASE,
MAY 26, 2007 - Saturday,
May 26, 2007 a group
of
Arkansas Railroad Club members, including me, drove to north Arkansas
and southern Missouri to photograph the BNSF and some UP
trains.
Towns visited: Hoxie (where
the busy
UP directional north line crosses the busy BNSF line from Missouri to
Memphis), Imboden, Ravenden, Williford, Hardy and Mammoth
Spring, Arkansas and Thayer, Missouri. We didn't see trains in all of
these towns, but checked out the rail viewing sites in each. We left
Union Station in Little Rock at 6 a.m. and got back to Little Rock
about 9:30 that night. Amtrak 21, the Dallas/San Antonio-bound Texas Eagle,
arrived at Little Rock
before we left, and I've included some photos of it and the many
boarding and arriving passengers. (All
photos by Ken Ziegenbein)
Locomotives seen today: BNSF 5938, 5719, 5724,
5512, 5388,
5986, 6126, 5677, 9818, 5721 *** UP 4076, 9401, 3998, 8571. STREETCARS AT RIVERFEST LITTLE
ROCK, MAY
27, 2007 - A few
streetcar photos on the last
day
of Riverfest in Little Rock and North Little Rock, Arkansas, Sunday May
27, 2007. Some were taken from the ground level looking up at
the
streetcars as they were on the Main Street Bridge. (Photos by Ken Ziegenbein). MAY 27, 2007 - LITTLE ROCK
-
Sunday, May 27, 2007 at Union Station
in Little Rock, Arkansas. Included today: UP 5125, 3831, 5818, 6451,
1339 *** CSX 8630 *** GCFX 3075 *** UP-SP 144, UP-SP 6246 *** SP 332.
(Photos by Ken Ziegenbein)
JUNE 2, 2007 - BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS
- Saturday, June 2, 2007 at Brinkley, Arkansas. Included
today:
Crane and flat *** UP 9725, 9335 (rare winged C40-8. Thanks to Andrew
Bonniwell for this information) *** SRS 143 geometry car *** test of
new 15x optical zoom. (Ken Ziegenbein photos)
CIRCUS TRAIN/ELEPHANTS JUNE
4,2007-LITTLE
ROCK - On Monday, June 4, 2007 the Ringling
Brothers - Barnum & Bailey Circus Train left North Little Rock,
Arkansas, heading south to Louisiana. They had been here on a
mid-season vacation since May 17 (they did not perform here, however.
This was just a rest and relaxation stop). The train had been parked in
UP's yards near 4th Street in North Little Rock.
Included on this webpage are many scenes of
switching
moves; elephants, horses and other animals being paraded to the train
to load; a few high resolution sound MPEG movies of various
train
and animal moves; Little Rock & Western passing the circus
train;
and photos of every car of the 59-car train as it passed Union Station
in Little Rock southbound.
Although I tried to get the numbers of all the
cars, I may
have missed some, so let me know. The train was headed by UP 8388 and
all the markings on the train started with RBBX (I've included the
numbers along with the photos of each car).
Do NOT put any of
my
movies or photos on any other site, including YouTube, Trainorders,
Photobucket, or any other site period. I'll do that myself if
I
want to. Feel free to share the link to this page, however. There will
be a thumb-size image webpage of this site put online in a day or so,
where you can click on any image to enlarge. However, I wanted to get
this up as soon as I could. Be advised that the site contains about 80
photos and if you have dialup, it'll take awhile to load. If you have a
high speed internet connection, it'll take about 20 seconds to
load. (Ken
Ziegenbein)
MORE CIRCUS TRAIN PHOTOS-THIS
TIME BY JOHN
C. JONES - Forty photos of the Ringling
Brothers-Barnum
& Bailey circus train, blue unit, in Little Rock, Arkansas on
June
4, 2007 taken by JOHN C. JONES . He also got great shots of the
elephants being loaded onto their rail cars, plus some shots
only
he could get on UP property, such as the Baring Cross bridge (John has
permission to be on UP property and takes a lot of photos for local UP
publications). To email John, click on:
johnphotonut@aristotle.net
1959 THRU 1982 SCANNED NEGATIVES
- I scanned some old negatives recently and found photos of the
following: Steam locomotive and coach in Scott, Arkansas 1970s *** Red
Katy units passing New Ulm, Texas 1974 *** St Joe, Arkansas
M&NA
depot 1974 *** Houston, Texas Union Station train platform with
streamliner 1959 *** Snowy night with Amtrak at Union Station Little
Rock, Arkansas 1982 *** Southern Crescent at Birmingham, Alabama and
Atlanta, Georgia 1975 *** Last Amtrak through Brenham, Texas October
1981 *** Southern Railroad freight Atlanta, Georgia 1975 *** SCL in
Tifton, Georgia 1974. (All photos copyright Ken Ziegenbein)
JUNE 10 & 17, 2007 AT
LITTLE ROCK
- SUNDAY, JUNE 10 and JUNE 17, 2007 at Union Station in Little Rock,
Arkansas. It rained part of the day on the 17th. Included: BNSF 4507
*** UP 3701, 7266, 6073, 9419, 4757, 1538, 1539 *** UPY gray Y147 ***
GECX/SP 8359 *** CEFX 2784 *** HLCX 7228 *** TFM 2663 *** KCS 4512 ***
Lake Erie, Franklin & Clarion Railroad Company hopper ***
Seaboard
System hopper *** CNW Blue hopper.
BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS, JUNE 23, 2007
- Saturday, June 23, 2007 at Brinkley,
Arkansas and Brasfield, Arkansas on the abandoned Rock Island 'Sunbelt'
Line. Brasfield is about 10 miles or so west of Brinkley and they were
celebrating their 100th year as a town. There used to be a huge lumber
mill in Brasfield and there is some old Rock Island track still located
on a spur to the old lumber mill, plus the piers are still in place for
the Cache River Rock Island bridge, near where the Ivory-bill
Woodpecker was possibly sighted in 2004. Also today, at Brinkley:
Conrail 8357, CSX 8038, UP 5339, NS 9188. (Photos by Ken Ziegenbein)
LITTLE ROCK JUNE 24, 2007
-
Sunday, June 24, 2007 at Little Rock, Arkansas. Included today: UP
9286, 4698, 5251 *** TFM 2648 *** BNSF 5326 *** NS 9290 *** log cars. GREEN RIVER, WYOMING JUNE 28, 2007
- A few scenes in Green River, Wyoming.
UNION
PACIFIC HERITAGE LOCOMOTIVE ROUNDUP - SALT LAKE CITY - JUNE 29-30, 2007
- Here are the best of my photos of the Union Pacific
Heritage
fleet roundup in Salt Lake City, Utah - June 29 and 30, 2007. I
condensed my photo collection down to 27 from the more than 240 taken
(aren't you glad?) Many thanks to Union Pacific, especially Director of
Corporate Relations, Union Pacific Railroad, Brenda Mainwaring. There
were over 100 railfans and reporters at the event on June 30. It was
fun meeting many who I had only corresponded with by via email, and
judging by the response to this event, most had a great time. People
had come from all over the country to view these colorful Heritage
locomotives and thanks to UP for taking these 7 new locomotives out of
the freight pool to do this for us and for the media and UP itself.
(The 7th locomotive is UP 8444 flag unit)
LITTLE ROCK JULY 4, 2007
-
Wednesday, July 4, 2007 at Little Rock, Arkansas' Union Station. A very
busy day for UP and there were lots of non-UP locomotives today.
Included: NS 2682 ** UP 5010 ** CSX 7806 ** UP 6081, 7697, 7696 (last
two new) ** CN 5394.
LITTLE ROCK JULY 15, 2007
- A
couple of boy's eye views of trains from the ground as they passed
Little Rock's Union Station on Sunday, July 15, 2007. Included today: a
small boy waiting for the 'choo-choo'; NS6690 ** BNSF 7744 with a
trackage rights train ** UP 4630, 1930, UPY 1337, UPY 1336 ** SP 9755
** a string of green pipes.
UP-BUSH 4141 HEARNE, TEXAS JULY
27, 2007
- While driving through Hearne, Texas this afternoon on my way to visit
my father, I spotted Bush 4141 facing southbound, about 1 mile south of
Hearne on Highway 6. Here are a couple of photos. Also in the consist
was CEFX 3140 and UP 5113. The time was 5:51 p.m. July 27, 2007. (Ken
Ziegenbein photo)
LITTLE ROCK AUGUST 1, 2007
-
Here are four photos today, August 1, 2007, taken from the north side
of the tracks at Union Station in Little Rock. Included: UP 9588 and
2052 and LRWN 101.
LITTLE ROCK AUGUST 2 AND 4, 2007
- A few photos from August 2 and August 4, 2007 at Little Rock,
Arkansas. Included: Amtrak 22, northbound Texas Eagle, 15 hours late
with AMK 14 and 168 *** UP 5657, 5201, 1472, 5168, 4995, 4761, 9476 ***
Something I've never seen before-a truck pulling 4 work-train gondolas
on the track *** HLCX 5103 *** CN 2428 *** A closeup of a helicopter
*** A sharp-looking BNSF autorack train led by BNSF 7047 *** A UP weed
sprayer.
15-HR LATE TX EAGLE NO. 22 AUGUST
4, 2007 -
LITTLE ROCK - The northbound Texas Eagle, Amtrak
22, finally
left Little Rock, Arkansas at 2:35 p.m. today (Saturday, August 4,
2007), almost exactly 15 hours late. This train had 'one of those days'
when nothing seemed to go right. It was about 7 hours late leaving Fort
Worth last evening due to a local freight fouling the line south of
Temple, Texas. Then before it reached Texarkana, I heard that it lost
head-end power to the Superliners. Since Amtrak 21, the southbound
Eagle, had two locomotives this morning, one of those was taken off of
No. 21 and placed on No. 22 to get the HEP working again. THEN the
train developed airbrake problems near Arkadelphia, Arkansas this
morning, about 1.5 hours out of Little Rock. The train finally arrived
in Little Rock at 2:10 p.m. and left at 2:35 p.m. This was the time it
was supposed to have arrived in Chicago!
The consist of the train: Amtrak 14,
Amtrak 168,
Superliners 39031, 32053, 38011, 33014 (Sightseer Lounge), 31012, 34024
and 34097. Some passengers were waiting inside Union Station since 11
p.m. last night and I found them in a foul mood when I went inside. I
even heard some otherwise nice people cussing. It was also hot,
official high was 98 degrees and it was quite hazy.
UP 1996 - SOUTHERN PACIFIC
HERITAGE-
BRINKLEY AR, AUGUST 9, 2007 - UP Heritage
locomotive 1996
(Southern Pacific) passing the Brinkley, Arkansas Depot Museum Thursday
evening, August 9, 2007 at 8:08 p.m. I used flash and 1600
ISO
since the sun had set. Consist was UP 8615, 1996, 4036 and 4289.
TRAINS AUG 5, 9 AND 11, 2007 -
BRINKLEY,
LITTLE ROCK, AR - Sunday, August 5, 2007 at
Little Rock,
Arkansas and Thursday and Saturday, August 9 and 11, 2007 at Brinkley,
Arkansas. Views include:MPEG Sound Movie (3.8mb) of a train passing the
Brinkley depot at track speed on Saturday, August 11, 2007 (to see the
movie, click HERE - I'd recommend Windows Media Player, it seems to
play it smoother than other players) *** UP 7506, 4709, 3785, 2952 ***
CSX 7743 *** TFM 2031(?) *** BNSF 5096, B337, 124 *** CN-GTW 4996 ***
HLCX 5995 *** KCS-M 4539 *** NS 9128 *** 'North Coast Railroad
Authority' sign on AOK boxcar *** Smiling UP engineer in Little Rock
*** SP black and white trademark on a gondola *** UP Work Train in
Little Rock *** Brinkley Depot Museum photo. (All photos by Ken
Ziegenbein - I have a photo in the 2008 Union Pacific calendar - check
it out when they're available)
LITTLE ROCK AUGUST 12, 2007
-
Sunday, August 12, 2007 at Little Rock, Arkansas. Included
today:
A pipe train *** UP 4158, 9136, 4962, 2052, 1336 *** GECX (UP) 2874.
(All photos by Ken Ziegenbein)
FERROMEX THREESOME LITTLE ROCK
AUGUST 19,
2007 - Thursday, August 17, 2007 and Sunday,
August 19,
Little Rock, Arkansas. Catch of the day was a 3-loco lashup of FERROMEX
locomotives on a mixed train with engine numbers 4652, 3219 and 3220.
Also two boys waving at a train *** UP 6633, 9641, 1532.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS AUGUST 26, 2007
- Lots of non-UP locomotives today,
Sunday August 26, 2007, in Little Rock, Arkansas, including: HLCX 6106
*** CSX 7683, 8095 *** CEFX 7123 *** CP Rail 5964, 6063 *** UP 9349,
3291, 7653, 1930, 1540, 9722 *** NS 9294, 7519 *** Unpatched SP 9755,
SP-GECX 8312 *** Unpatched SSW 9647 *** CP Rail green boxcar *** New
Autoracks *** A running inspection of passing trains *** Short SP gon
*** SW Airlines jet overhead.
LITTLE ROCK - SEPTEMBER 2, 2007
- Sunday, September 2, 2007 at Little Rock, Arkansas. Of special
interest today was a bright red CP locomotive plus an 'almost' unit
train of truck or car frames. Included today: UP 4709, 3273, 5057,
9300, Y1337 *** CP Rail 4404.
MKT CABOOSE NO. 6 AND SP CABOOSE
NO. 4696
ON FREIGHT LITTLE ROCK SEP 5, 2007 - Drenched
MKT green
caboose No. 6 and
SP Caboose No. 4696 on the rear of QPTNL passing Union Station in
Little Rock, Arkansas Wednesday September 5, 2007 at 1:20 p.m. I
understand these cabooses belong to the Gulf Coast Chapter (Houston)
NRHS and that they are being transported to be repainted. It
was
pouring rain at the time of the photos and you can see the rain falling
LITTLE ROCK SEPTEMBER 5, 2007
-
Rainy and foggy day, Trains in the rain at Little Rock,
Wednesday September 5, 2007. Included today: UP 3603, 2451, 2418, 9639
*** NS 2684 *** LLPX 2229 *** BNSF 750 Warbonnet *** GTW-CN blue
hi-cube *** View of downtown Little Rock from Union Station in the fog
and rain.
AMTRAK 21 WITH NS 2686 IN LEAD
SEPTEMBER 9,
2007 - A late Amtrak Texas Eagle No. 21 with
NS 2686 in the lead at Little Rock on September 9, 2007, 10:25 a.m.
(about 7 hours late). It was raining moderately and shows the 'all
weather' mode of train travel.
BRINKLEY, AR TRAINS SEPTEMBER 22,
2007 -
INCLUDING UP 8444 - Saturday, September 22, 2007
at
Brinkley, Arkansas. Of special interest today was UP 8444, the regular
UP unit that was displayed along with UP's six Heritage Locomotives in
Salt Lake City, Utah on June 30, 2007. Also, NS 6666 *** UP 8505, 4254,
2304 *** CSX 265. Plus a short MPEG sound movie of a track-speed train
passing the depot from inside the ticket office.
LITTLE ROCK SEPTEMBER 23, 2007
-
Train shots Sunday, September 23, 2007 at Little Rock, Arkansas. Many
streets were blocked today in the downtown area of Little Rock due to
the days-long 50th anniversary celebration of the Central High School
desegregation crisis of 1957. There were people here from all over the
world covering this event and many got lost on their way to Central
High School
and accidentally drove into the west parking lot of Union Station
(Mapquest and other computer maps mistakenly has Markham Street running
into that parking lot). One person in our group missed a train photo op
because of directing traffic. Anyway, trains seen today were: A long
EMPTY pipe-hauling train headed by BNSF 4532 (including a short movie
of this train winding through a switch and curve), UP: 4119, 1336,
5313, 4161, 5346 *** Pure Ashley, Drew & Northern green boxcar
(no
graffiti) *** CSX 5368 *** BNSF 4532 *** GMTX 2129 bright blue and
white *** KCS 4027, 3459.
KCS 'RETRO-BELLE' HERITAGE
LOCOMOTIVE No.
4045 SEPTEMBER 25, 2007-LITTLE ROCK - KANSAS
CITY
SOUTHERN #4045 in the new KCS 'Retro Belle' Heritage paint
scheme
passed through Little Rock, Arkansas on Tuesday, September 25, 2007.
Here are a few photos of it passing Union Station, then from the Main
Street overpass in North Little Rock, then in the UP NLR
yard.
The locomotive passed the station at 10:49 a.m., 4th unit of 5 in a
manifest train. Two hours before the 4045 passed, another train had a
long string of the new KCS Heritage hoppers. Guess it was
"KCS
DAY" at the UP.
LITTLE ROCK SEPTEMBER 25, 2007
-
Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at Little Rock's Union Station. Trains
today: UP 9284, 4836, 4484, 2403, 4340, 2070 *** CEFX 3147 *** CN 6110
*** IC 6063 Operation Lifesaver *** Ferromex 4629 paired with another
Ferromex *** KCS 4045 Heritage *** String of KCS heritage hoppers.
BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS SEPTEMBER 29,
2007
- Brinkley, Arkansas, September 29, 2007. Red industrial locomotive on
a flatcar heading south. I couldn't see any markings. It passed the
depot in Brinkley, Arkansas at 11:40 a.m. Saturday, September, 29.Also
today: UP 2006 *** Unknown blue unit 8462 *** CSX 7817 *** long Rock
Island hopper *** damaged UP autorack car (part of roof torn off) ***
Kellogg Grain Co. hopper.
BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS SEP 29 - PART
TWO
- Just a few more trains through Brinkley, Arkansas, on Saturday,
September 29, 2007, this time after noon when the sun angle was much
better. Included: UP 2205, 9529 *** KCS 4503 *** NS 9425 *** some pipes
on gondolas.
LITTLE ROCK SEPTEMBER 30, 2007
-
Sunday, September 30, 2007 at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Some colorful loco combinations today, including: KCS 4016 *** UP 2418,
5118, 8572, 1540 *** SP(UP) 2719 *** HLCX 6340, 6336 *** CEFX 3168 ***
BNSF 4641, 7658 *** CSX 8043 *** SANTA FE (BNSF) 6450 *** Cryo-Trans
colorful car "Yellowstone River" *** Red KATY gon *** MoPac buzzsaw gon
*** One train had 4 locomotives and only 7 freight cars, but I suspect
some engine move was involved.
KCS NEW HERITAGE LOCOMOTIVE 4048
AND OTHERS
- LITTLE ROCK OCTOBER 7, 2007 - KCS 4048, newly
built with
the KCS Heritage Belle colors, was the only locomotive on a Z train
passing Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas, Sunday morning, October
7, 2007. It was 87 degrees. Other locomotives and cars
today: UP 2688, 2874, 8362, 4840, 2070, 4123, 4663, 4969 ***
Rio
Grande (UP) 9867 *** BNSF 4887, 4912 *** NS 9129, 9685 *** Southern
Pacific Sunset Trademark on a boxcar and a flatcar *** D&RGW
pure
gondola *** Missouri Pacific gons, one with the buzzsaw the other with
the eagle *** Golden West polled flatcar *** Illinois Cereal Mills, Inc
hopper ***DMM boxcar *** Grand Trunk Western hi-cube boxcar *** TXI
hopper *** BN green hopper *** Two 16-wheel KRL heavy duty flats ***
BFGX new hopper *** UP autorack without sides *** Columbus &
Greenville boxcar *** Butterfly on a flower in Brinkley October 6. (All
photos by Ken Ziegenbein. Do not repost anywhere unless you ask me
first).
LITTLE ROCK AND BRINKLEY OCTOBER
20, 21,
2007 - Train photos in Little Rock October 21,
2007, plus a
few shots taken October 13 and 20th. Included: UP 9253, 4802, 5050,
9225, 3953, 9107, 6514, 7080, 1930, 5053 *** UPY 158 *** SP unpatched
9755 (always at North Little Rock) *** CN 6110 *** newly repainted UP
gondolas with new UP shield *** RJ Corman boxcar *** UP crane
or
pile driver passing the Brinkley, AR depot *** UP tree cutter *** SIRX
516190 hopper *** Corinth & Counce RR Co. boxcar *** Logimex
hopper
*** Marinette, Tomahawk & Western boxcar *** Grace Davison
Fluid
Cracking Catalysts hopper *** Railcare green tankcar *** White pigeon
or dove being chased by a flock of pigeons at Union Station *** Unknown
small furry animal at Brinkley (gopher?).
PALESTINE, TEXAS UP OPEN HOUSE
OCTOBER 27,
2007 - On Saturday, October 27, 2007, UP had
an open house at their Palestine, Texas yard complex in conjunction
with the city's Octoberfest celebration. They had miniature train rides
on UP's rubber-tire train, plus Heritage locomotive 1982 (MoPac) and
Bush locomotive 4141 were on display with walk-up ramps so you could
walk through them both (I got photos inside and out). UP
employees also had a free breakfast open to the public with LOTS of
food, of which I naturally partook. We were on our way to New Ulm,
Texas for my old church's 140th
anniversary celebration and we spent the night in Palestine on the
Friday night before so I decided to get up early and go to the UP open
house before we headed south. While at the Holiday Inn Express, we saw
several families who were there for the Thomas the Tank Engine rides at
the Texas State Railroad.
BURTON, TEXAS RESTORED DEPOT
OCTOBER 27,
2007 - The former Southern Pacific (Houston &Texas Central)
depot at Burton, Texas was moved back to its original location a few
years ago and is now in the process of becoming a museum. I
visited the site on Saturday, October 27, 2007 and talked with Susan
Kiel and Harry Lee Stark (a
retired
long-time Southern Pacific
employee) about the ongoing project. They are planning to
be
open on Saturdays after the first of the year (2008).
HOUSTON, TEXAS AROUND UNION
STATION
NOVEMBER 3, 2007 - Here's 12 scenes taken in
downtown
Houston, Texas Saturday, November 3, 2007 around Union Station (Minute
Maid Park) and southeast of there along Commerce Street. I've included
a screen capture of a Yahoo Map with satellite view of the area.
FALL COLORS, TROLLEYS AND CAMP
ROBINSON
SPUR NOVEMBER 6, 2007 - Tuesday, November 6,
2007 riding the
trolley through some bright Fall colors in Little Rock and North Little
Rock, Arkansas. Plus Fall scenes along the abandoned UP Camp Robinson
spur on November 8.
TURBINE ON 12-AXLE FLATCAR LITTLE
ROCK
NOVEMBER 21, 2007 - A special train carrying a
large 14'-1"
turbine passed Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas on Wednesday,
November 21, 2007 at 12:40 p.m. It had CSX 6498 and CSX 2319 in the
lead, followed by one hopper and then the turbine on hauler
KRE
340320. It was headed south to Texas.
TRAINS
NOVEMBER
2007 - Various trains on various days in November 2007 in
Brinkley
and Little Rock, Arkansas. Included locomotives: UP 4709,
7676,
1846, 7736, 2887, 2256, 2070 ** CNW(UP) 9741 ** BNSF 4923 ** SP(UP)
2741 ** FURX 7220 ** Freshly painted Saskatchewan hopper ** CHTT blue
gon 360345 ** Green MKT hopper 596 ** Red MKT gon FSR 1028.
NOVEMBER
26, 2007 LITTLE ROCK - TRACKS, SIGNALS, CLOUDS - No trains
today,
just some tracks, signals and dark, drizzly clouds. Gusty, cold north
winds made it feel quite chilly, but a slice or two of sunshine broke
through the gloom finally. Scenes were at the station in
Little
Rock, Arkansas, Monday, November 26, 2007, about 3:30 p.m. Temperature
was 43 degrees.
DECEMBER 1, 2007 LITTLE ROCK
-
Just a few trains passing the station in Little Rock, Arkansas on
Saturday, December 1, 2007. Included today: Wisconsin &
Southern
boxcar WSOR 503119, the boxcar with the Athearn Miniature Trains ad
*** UP
4763, 9231, 4788, 1982 (taken by A Holmes in Pine Bluff).
DECEMBER 2, 2007 LITTLE ROCK
-
Sunday, December, 2, 2007 at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas.
There were 12 trains between 9 a.m. and noon, not too bad (not all
photographed). Included today: KCS 4519, 4576 *** TFM 1624 *** NS 2661
*** UP 4329, 1539, 4094, 7621, 9468, 5073 *** Freight cars: UELX 30027
Corn Sweeteners gon *** ADMX 80067 new gon *** ETCX 84001 tank car with
4 mini-domes *** Western Express trailers *** New green tank car TILX
262237 *** UP short hopper 7041 *** Southern hi-cube 42572 *** Norfolk
and Western (spelled out) boxcar 604164 *** GTW hi-cube 384693 ***
Conrail hi-cube 237502 *** D&RGW hopper 5619 *** CNW clean
hopper
471735 *** Western Pacific hopper 12073.
FOGGY TRAINS LITTLE ROCK DECEMBER
8, 2007
- A very foggy day at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas on Saturday,
December 8, 2007. It was also a chilly 48 degrees. However, just 40
miles to the south in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, it was a balmy 72. This
warmer air was overrunning the colder air in Little Rock....thus the
fog with visibility less than a quarter mile. It made for some nifty
train photos, though. I also have a couple of shots from the Main
Street Bridge in North Little Rock. Included today (when I could read
the locomotive numbers): UP 4631, 4242, 2300, 4984, 7101, 8506, 2886,
2486. Plus a Christmas greeting at the end of the page.
DECEMBER 15, 2007 TRAINS IN
ARKANSAS
- Various trains and various locations December 14, 15 and 16, 2007 in
Arkansas (Brinkley, North Little Rock, Lonoke and ye' ole standby Union
Station in Little Rock using some different angles and locations around
the station, including photos of the Baring Cross bridge and scenes
taken from the Cantrell Road overpass. Saturday, December 15 was cold
and rainy (38-40 degrees), Sunday December 16 was sunny, cold and very
windy (25-30 mph with temperature also 25-30). Included:UP/SP
2741 *** UP 8588, 9777, 4338, 9456, 8576, 4809, 3273, 4645 *** CSX 8767
*** CEFX 3128 *** UP display caboose and boxcar in Lonoke, Arkansas (on
abandoned site of Rock Island) decorated for Christmas *** Track
supports on the curve at Brinkley, Arkansas *** Car crossing just a few
seconds ahead of a train in Brinkley.
TRAINS ARKANSAS AND TEXAS DEC 19
THROUGH
24, 2007 - From December 19 through December 24,
2007 I made
a Christmas trip to visit my father in Texas and did some railfanning
on the way. The following contains photos and captions for the trip and
includes the following towns:
IN ARKANSAS: Malvern, Donaldson, Arkadelphia,
Gurdon,
Prescott, Hope.
IN TEXAS: Marshall, Hearne, Rockdale, Milano,
Caldwell,
Somerville, Sealy, Cat Spring, New Ulm, Brenham.
LOCOMOTIVES: SP/UP 2756 *** PANDROL JACKSON RAIL
GRINDER
*** TEXAS STATE RAILROAD 7 AND 300 *** GATX 2112 *** BNSF 6982, 4470,
4864, 4173, 3034, 3032, 9562, 9995, 1017, 4451 *** T&P STEAM
LOCOMOTIVE 400 *** EMD 9080, 9083 *** CN 9468 *** AMT 5 *** MIDSOUTH
1041, 1602 *** UP 334, 5340, 2874, 3218, 9335, 6686, 1973, 3822, 7578.
OF SPECIAL INTEREST: Malvern, Arkansas 1876
roundhouse ***
Panorama mosaic in Prescott, Arkansas *** Catalpa Tree, Hope, Arkansas
*** Texas Eagle No. 21 arriving in Marshall, Texas *** Texas State
Railroad grounds *** Silhouetted crossing signal with a sunset.
While in Sealy, Texas I met Matthew Dittert, a
regular on
the Railspot Yahoo Group.
TEXAS STATE RAILROAD'S POLAR
EXPRESS
DECEMBER 23,2007 - They had a full house for the
5:10 p.m.
run and ran two more Polar Express trains later that night.
As
you will see, there were hundreds of people, mainly children with their
families. I was in coach 41 on the 7-car train. I've included
some sound mpeg movie clips of onboard activities and of the train
arriving at the station. Steam locomotive No. 300 was used. The trip
was fantastic and the fun and good times were rampant. The hosts of
each car wore the white chef outfits that were seen in the Polar
Express movie and served hot chocolate and gave out snacks to all on
board. One of the carhosts in my car was Cliff Rich.
The train went about eight miles out of Palestine
to a
'North Pole' scene in the middle of the woods where Santa got on and
the
went through the various coaches, his elves giving all the children a
small magical Christmas bell. All the kids were elated and happy and
those bells were ringing loud and clear! All the while, some of the
music from the movie soundtrack was being played throughout the train.
Then Christmas carols were played and everyone sung along. Even though
you can hear the singing and bells in some of the movies I took, you
had to be there to truly experience the atmosphere. Once in a while the
steam whistle would blow in the darkness.
According to one of the hosts, ridership on all
the Polar
Express trains already run had already passed Thomas the Tank Engine
ridership last summer. She said that as of December 23, 18,000 had
ridden. Due to the high demand, they were planning to run more the
following week.
DECEMBER 27 AND 29, 2007 LITTLE
ROCK
- Here's a few photos from Thursday, December 27 and Saturday, December
29, 2007 at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas. Included today: UP
2741, 9279, 2276, 8229, 7221, 2475, 2927, 9714, 3184, 4709, 7788 ***
Soo Line boxcar *** HS, former Rock Island boxcar *** four D&H
gondolas *** ice on standing water. It was a sunny, clear day
on
December 29 but overcast on December 27 and cold both days.
DECEMBER 31, 2007 LITTLE ROCK
-
Here's a few trains as UP was winding down for the New Years holiday on
December 30 and 31, 2007 at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Included is a brand new CSX 773. Also: UP 1930, 1337, 8540, 3273, 7620,
3664, 2174, 4975 *** CSX 8100, 773 *** KCS 3425 *** a string of Rio
Grande hoppers.
STREETCARS LITTLE ROCK DECEMBER
31, 2007
- A few photos of Little Rock-North Little Rock's streetcars on the
last day of 2007, all taken in Little Rock's River Market.
*
* * * * * * * * * * *
2008
JANUARY 1, 2008 LITTLE ROCK
-
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008! Here's my first trains of the year, and there were
more that I though passing Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas (4
between 12:40 and 2:14 p.m.). Included today is a towing move of dead
BNSF/SF No. 6506, which was about 5 cars from the rear of a freight.
Also the following: UP 3874, 3833, 5040,2413, 9167, 7665 ***
CSX
8887 *** SP/UP 2717 *** CN gondola 91078 with outside brackets *** Old
yellow UP boxcar with shield and 'automated' sign being stored in the
North Little Rock yards. It was very windy and cold and felt
like
an icecycle in the freezer.
BRINKLEY JANUARY 5, 2008
-
Brinkley, Arkansas Saturday, January 5, 2008. Of interest is a hopper
with the non-grafitti words "Beans, Rice and Popcorn" (Hopper CRDX
14522). Also: UP 9259, 7799, 2827, 4941, 3664, 9522, 8393, 9258 *** NS
8999 *** FURX 8105 *** CNW, KCS and WP boxcars. It was a dark, drizzly
day with temperatures in the 50s.
JANUARY 6, 2008 LITTLE ROCK
-
Sunday, January 6, 2008 at Little Rock, near Stuttgart and in
England, Arkansas. Of special interest was a newly painted, black and
yellow, GP50, WAMX 5005 being towed mid-train past Union Station about
1 p.m. Also today: UP: 6166, 7005, 6796, 4148, 3148, 2452 ***
WAMX 5005 *** Rock Island and CNW hoppers *** UP caboose 25383 on
display in a park in England, Arkansas.
JANUARY 9, 2008 - PERRY, ARKANSAS
-NEWLY
PAINTED RLIX UNITS - On January 9,
2007, I drove to
Perry, Arkansas to the Little Rock and Western shops and headquarters
after hearing that they had 3 Rail Link locomotives that had just been
painted at their facility. They were painted by some company from
Galveston, Texas. The locomotives were: RLIX Nos. 1204, 1601, and 277.
Also, LRWN's own No. 103 and 101. They told me that No. 102
was
on a trip to Danville, that No. 101 had a burnt-out generator and that
No. 103 was currently being used for parts. Both the Little Rock
&
Western and Rail Link are part of the Genesee & Wyoming
organization. The locomotives were scheduled to be hauled by
LRWN
to its UP connection in North Little Rock the coming weekend, January
12 or 13, where UP will move them to wherever they are going (I don't
know where they are destined).
From Trainorders.com, I got the following
regarding the
history of some of these locomotives: FLIX 1204: BN
18967, Built
11/1953, Model SW9, FN 4244-7, RAILROADS: PS 237 to PS 1948 to WPRR
1204 LRWN 103: BN
22788, Built
04/1957, Model GP9, FN 5518-2, RAILROADS: GN 713 to BN 1786 to LRWN 103
JANUARY 11, 2008 LITTLE ROCK
-
Friday, January 11, 2008 at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas. Of
special interest was two flatcars loaded with John Deere tractors.
Also: UP 5208, 1888, 6069, 3822, 2832 *** NS 9617 *** BNSF 5611 *** CSX
8204, 8196 *** CN-GTW hi-cube *** Chessie hi-cube with sleeping cat ***
CSX pure blue boxcar *** Western Pacific boxcars, one with the large
WP, one with the WP symbol. Also a photo of a small boy excited to be
watching the trains.
JANUARY 12, 2008 LITTLE ROCK
-
Saturday, January 12, 2008 at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas. Of
special interest today was UP 1900, an ex-DRGW GP60. Also today: UP
5782, 5832, 2003 (SP), 5502, 5127, 7289, 4147, 1900 (DRGW) *** CSX 5227
*** FURX 8114 *** CONRAIL 6783 *** NS 9639 *** ANRR Boxcar ***
Blue-White long tankcar *** colorful coil cars.
JANUARY 13, 2008 LITTLE ROCK
-
Sunday, January 13, 2008 at the station in Little Rock. It was windy
and cold, in the upper 30s. Of special interest today was KCM 4035 in
the Belle colors used as a DPU on a southbound coal train. Also today:
UP 1930, 2432, 9748, 3855, 2381, 5689, 6734, 5029, 6543, 9746, 1539 ***
KCS 4035 Belle colors *** SP 9755 unpatched *** D&H Hopper NRLX
12324 *** CNW green hoppers. *** TFM, DME, FWP boxcars.
JANUARY 15, 2008 - DUMP TRAIN
-
A Georgetown Rail Equipment (GREX) unit dump train passing Union
Station in Little Rock, Arkansas on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 shortly
after noon. According to GREX's website
(http://www.georgetownrail.com), these unit dump trains have a capacity
of 1,500 nt, one 50-foot boom, 2,000 cubic ft capacity, weighs 63,000
pounds and is 1,000 feet long. It can be operated by one individual.
This is classified MOW equipment, but is the term 'dump train' the
correct name for it? I've also heard it could be called a 'slag' train
or 'conveyor' train.
RAILSPOT LUNCHEON - MORE PHOTOS
- Here's are a few pictures taken at the annual Railspot luncheon at
the Love & War In Texas restaurant in Plano, Texas on Saturday,
January 19, 2008. This was in conjunction of the Plano train show the
same weekend. Railspot Moderator Mike Murray said he counted
54
on the list that had signed up to attend. Anyone in the
picture
not listed, email me. Here are those names:
List for the Railspot Lunch at Love and War in
Texas,
Plano, TX 1:00 pm, January 19th, 2008:
Mike Selby, Richard Whitenight, Mike &
Vonnie Murray,
Steve Grabman, Roy Grabman, Buz Grabman, Bob Tickner, Jim
Shepherd, Michael Ellis, Patrick Phelan, Brian Tindle +?,
John
Morris, Devin & Melanie Jackson with sons Aaron &
Matthew
Jackson. Boxcar Jim Satterwhite + 1, Chris Tolley, Don Ross &
Virginia Gordon, Mike Bedford, Ken Ziegenbein, Lee + Matt Shell, Ruby
& Charles Allen, Ron + Jonathan Roman, Jimmy & Ava
Barlow,
Erich S Houchens, Greg Goffinet + 1, Jeff Steen +1, Garl Latham, Bryan
Flint, Bob King, Drew King, John & Carla Dyer, John Smith + 5,
Richard Wainscott, Steven Wainscott, Jim Vollmar, Ken
Stavinoha.
JANUARY 21, 2008 - LITTLE ROCK
-
Up close and personal trains on a cold, cloudy Monday, January 21, 2008
at Little Rock's Union Station. For some reason, UP routed two trains
over the 10 mph Amtrak siding and I got as close as legally possible
for moving train photos. There were 6 trains in 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Of special interest is Cotton Belt (UP) 1992, a relatively rare 4-axle
locomotive (a GP60). Also: UP 4029, 4851, 4361, 9422, 1847, 1539, 9774,
4041, 7641 *** NS 8785 (really closeup) *** SSW/UP 1992 *** Rock Island
blue boxcar HS 75094.
JANUARY 22, 2008 LITTLE ROCK
-
Here are just a couple of photos today at the station in Little Rock,
plus some added fun. Included: UP 7348, 4134, 4621 *** CSX 8070 ***
LLPX 2228 *** new GATX hopper CMO 13630 *** Flying lion *** lady lost.
JANUARY24, 2008 LITTLE ROCK
-
Cold and blustery on Thursday, January 24, 2008 at Little Rock's Union
Station, about 30 degrees, but sunny. Just a handful of photos today,
so they are presented in the higher resolution format instead of the
click-to-enlarge format. I included one photo of UP 9289 at
1280
pixels wide so if you have that resolution for your monitor, it should
fill the screen left to right.
Also today: Norfolk and Western boxcar *** Rare
(?) yellow
UP gondola (UP97000) with a faded UP shield logo on the right *** Four
Wisconsin Central boxcars in a row *** UP 9289, 2725, 4959, 9082
(former CNW), 7218.
JANUARY 26, 2008 - LITTLE ROCK
and
BRINKLEY, AR - Little Rock & Western
westbound train
passing Union Station in Little Rock, going to Perry, Arkansas shortly
after 11 in the morning, Saturday, January 26, 2008. They were using a
leased Arkansas Midland locomotive, No. 722, and the ETRY unit, No.
7736. Other trains today at Little Rock and Brinkley, plus a
trespassing cat on the curve at Brinkley. It was cloudy and cold,
temperatures in the mid 30s at both places. Included today: UP 3273,
4600 *** IC 6058-Operation Lifesaver *** CN 5666 *** NS 9393, 8642 ***
AKMD 722 *** ETRY 7736 *** 'Route Rock blue hopper *** Yellow CNW
hopper *** Colorful BNSF hoppers *** Short sound MPEG movie of a
speeding train passing the Brinkley, AR depot.
JANUARY 27, 2008 LITTLE ROCK
UNION STATION
AND BIDDLE YARD - Sunday, January 27,
2008 at Union
Station and Biddle Yard (former Rock Island), Little Rock, Arkansas.
Lots of fallen-flag and unusual cars today, including an almost unit
train of Golden West hoppers. The day started out cloudy and cold, 35
degrees, but cleared off rapidly by noon and getting warmer.
Included today: SP 9775, unpatched except for a
new UP
yellow front door *** UP 5735, 9096, 9070, 9464 (twice), 4712, 1373,
1474 *** BNSF 4639 *** NS 9450 *** CSX 8449, 8093, 8219 *** CONRAIL
7301 *** IC 6058 *** 'New' autoracks *** Rusted Pillsbury blue hopper
SOO 125110 *** Interesting junk on gondola SMIX 1040 *** Winchester
& Western Railroad hopper WW 7227 *** Blue OXAX 6227 tankcar
***
Hanson hopper PCTX 1523 *** Bright blue repainted Golden West Service
hi-cube boxcar SSW 6668 *** KCS Gondola 801500 *** New or newly painted
KCS boxcar 61378 *** Yellow CNW hopper 49014 *** Long string of Golden
West Service hoppers (about 15 in a row) *** North Shore RR hi-cube
boxcar NSHR 5508.
3M LOCOMOTIVE
403 AT 3M
PLANT - LITTLE ROCK JANUARY 27, 2008 - This photo of 3M
locomotive
No. 403 was taken at the 3M plant off Arch Street (Hwy 367) in Little
Rock, Arkansas, Sunday afternoon, January 27, 2008. According to Mike
Murray, it's a SW 1200----Serial# 29787, Frame# 4473-8, Built 2/65, EX
MP 1272 (2nd). 3M acquired it in 1985.
COLD TRAINS, TROLLEY,
LITTLE ROCK
JANUARY 31, 2008 - Thursday, January 31, 2008
was a cold,
wet day in the Little Rock area, with rain mixed with snow and sleet
along with occasional thunder and lightning. The temperature was 33
degrees. What better time to take a picture of a train or two plus a
streetcar! Here they are, and include: UP 9679 and Central
Arkansas Streetcar 412.
ROCK/SLOT TRAIN LITTLE
ROCK-OTHERS-FEBRUARY
4, 2008 - Empty rock/slot train southbound
passing Union
Station in Little Rock Monday afternoon, February 4, 2008 headed by UPY
1336 and 1373. The articulated train had GREX 3410 as the first section
followed by other GREX sections and then a long string of empty
gondolas. The words 'Slot Machine' was on the GREX cars. There's also a
shot of a speeding UP southbound train crossing Arkansas Highway 17 (in
southeast Arkansas about 30 minutes south of Brinkley) just before dawn
on Saturday, February 2. I was on my way to the White River
National Wildlife Refuge near St. Charles, Arkansas to photograph birds
and saw and photographed a flock of thousands of Snowgeese, which are
all over this area in the winter (I have a separate link to these
photos on the train webpage if anyone is interested). Union
Pacific's main directional south line runs through this refuge.
Also on this webpage: UP 4949, 2745, 9224, 6034,
5520 ***
UPY 1336, 1373 *** MKT red gons 16156, 16298 *** MKT green gon 16513
*** Renewable Products Marketing Group string of new tankcars *** GREX
3410 rock/slot train.
ARKANSAS MIDLAND SWITCHING IN
GALLOWAY,
ARKANSAS FEBRUARY 9, 2008 - A relatively rare
Arkansas
Midland move to Galloway, Arkansas from North Little Rock on Saturday,
February 9, 2008. I was on my way to the depot museum in Brinkley about
9:30 a.m. and saw the AKMD train switching at a plant in Galloway at
the end of the line, so I decided to take a detour and get some photos.
Arkansas Midland uses the former Rock Island line out of North Little
Rock as far as Galloway, where a pile of rock on the track marks the
end of the line (the other end of the former Rock Island is located at
Danville, Arkansas west of Little Rock. Little Rock &
Western
operates the line west of Little Rock. The former Rock Island line is
not continuous through North Little Rock, where AKMD and LRWN use the
UP).
FEBRUARY 9 & 10, 2008 -
BRINKLEY -
LITTLE ROCK - Saturday and Sunday, February 9
and 10, 2008
at Brinkley and Little Rock, Arkansas. Included: Brinkley Depot photo
and short history *** West Central hopper *** GTA hopper *** Greenville
Northern Railway boxcar *** Two photos of Trumpeter Swans on a private
lake in Heber Springs, AR *** UP 9406, 8606, 1890, 4367, 2341 *** NS
8956, 6717-New, 8376, 6616 *** CSX 5388. I just missed Railspot member
'Boxcar Jim' Satterwhite at the depot in Brinkley as he was traveling
through. Missed him by 30 minutes.
FEBRUARY 14, 2008 LITTLE ROCK
-
Here's a few photos taken at Little Rock on Valentine's Day, 2008.
Included today: Three weird railfans I've never seen before *** CSX
8405, 4979 *** UP 9275, 7179, 2312, 2990 (ex-CNW), 4679, 9650 *** UP
900700 silver work car *** Soo Line faded gondola.
UP CENTENNIAL 6936 SPECIAL TRAIN
BRINKLEY,
AR, FEBRUARY 16, 2008 - UP DD40X 6936 headed a
10-car Union
Pacific Wimmer Engineering Special passenger train from Chicago to Pine
Bluff on Saturday, February 16, 2008, shown here passing the Brinkley,
Arkansas Depot Museum at speed at 4:48 p.m. This was the 16th train to
pass this station today. It was cloudy and rainy most of the afternoon,
and just a couple of minutes before the special passed, it turned very
dark and began raining harder. I had to really adjust my camera
settings rapidly, increasing the sensitivity, so there's a blur in the
photos. Plus, the special was zipping by at track speed (at least 60
mph for passenger trains). It was a sharp-looking train,
which
tied up in Pine Bluff after 6 p.m.
NUMEROUS TRAINS BRINKLEY, AR, FEB
16, 2008
- Saturday, February 16, 2008 at Brinkley, Arkansas. It was a cloudy,
rainy day. There were sixteen trains today in about 8 hours, not bad
for a run-through location. Locomotives today: Conrail 5960 *** CSX
8599, 5482 *** UP 3536, 8340, 9119, 9428, UP-SP 2701, UP 4814,
6936-Centennial *** NS 7613, 9484, 6709, 8848, 8700 *** BNSF-Santa Fe
3175, BNSF 4390, BNSF-Warbonnet 796. *** Rare or unusual freight cars:
MKT short green hopper HLCX 4140 in surprisingly good shape *** String
of AOK boxcars, including one with North Coast Railroad Authority logo
*** String of coil cars *** Rockdale(?), Sandow(?) & Southern
Railroad Company worn gondola *** Rail-hauling cars *** Relatively new
articulated auto-racks.
FEBRUARY 17, 2007 LITTLE ROCK
-
Sunday, February 17, 2008 at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Included today was a nice pair of CN locomotives heading one train and
a flatcar what had a small 4-wheel rail wagon on it. Also:
Locomotives: 7625, 9162, 7699, 3687, 2206, 8351, 1540, 4081 *** LLPX
2229 *** BNSF 4123 *** CN 2662, 6139. Unusual stuff: Two flat cars had
lots of small items on them, one being a 4-wheel rail wagon *** 4 log
cars.
ULM & CLARENDON,
AR-FEBRUARY 23, 2008
- Saturday, February 23, 2008 - Trains at Clarendon and Ulm, Arkansas
on the main south-line of the Union Pacific, the same line that runs
through Brinkley, Arkansas (former Cotton Belt). Ulm is located about 8
miles east of Stuttgart and about 30 miles southwest of Brinkley.
Clarendon is about 19 miles east of Stuttgart. Both Stuttgart and Ulm
are old German settlements, but Stuttgart is much larger due to the
huge rice farming corporations in this part of Arkansas. Ulm only has a
population of 205 (much like my hometown of New Ulm, Texas). Clarendon
has 1,960 and Stuttgart has a population of 9,376. This area also has
several Lutheran Churches, rare in Arkansas, mostly due to the German
settlers.
Two trains today. Included: UP 4621 (two times)
*** NS
8810 *** scenes of the White River Highway bridge in Clarendon and
scenes of downtown Ulm, Arkansas.
FEBRUARY 24, 2008 - LITTLE ROCK,
AR
- A few trains passing Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas, Sunday,
February 24, 2008. I guess the most interesting photos are of two
SD40-2s leading an intermodal, 4 new shiny red SeverCorr steel cars and
an unpatched Cotton Belt 9693. Others: UP 4658, UP-SP 2741,
UP
4910, 9345, 3609, 1539, 3559, 2502, 5008, 3039, 3182, 9104 *** CSX 5438
*** SSW 9693.
FEBRUARY
29,
2008 - LITTLE ROCK - Included today, Friday,
February 29,
2008 at the station in Little Rock and UP yards in North Little Rock:
UP 1539, 102, 939 *** HLCX 6313 (red and blue), HLCX 6213 (all red),
HLCX 7203 (all red), HLCX 6315 (red with white roof), all seemed
freshly painted *** KCS 4520. A train used the Amtrak siding again
today.
BRINKLEY, AR MARCH 1, 2008
- Brinkley, Arkansas Saturday, March 1, 2008. Included today
were
three BNSF locomotives all together, all different colors, and the
UP-MoPac Heritage 1982, which was dirty. It looked like it hit a dirty
snowball. Also: UP 1982, 9494, 1929 *** BNSF 6901, 6835, 549 *** NS
9130 *** CSX 7640, 4517, 8449 *** pipes.
SNOW-LITTLE ROCK, MARCH 7, 2008
- A snowy day in Little Rock, Arkansas. Here's a few scenes from Union
Station and the UP North Little Rock yard, plus a Little Rock streetcar
in the snow. It had just started snowing about an hour before these
photos and we ended up with 3-4 inches in Little Rock while about 60
miles west on the UP Van Buren sub near Russellville, AR, 12-15 inches
were reported. This snowfall is supposedly the most the state has had
for so late in the winter season since 1894.
BRINKLEY, AR MARCH 8, 2008 - SNOW
SCENES
- Saturday, March 8, 2008, the day after a record snowfall for so late
in the winter season across much of Arkansas. Several places in west
and north Arkansas had 15-18 inches of snow. Brinkley had 6 inches and
a lot was still on the ground today. It was sunny and 39 degrees (20
degrees below the normal for the date). Of interest today was a
colorful combination of a blue Conrail 6742 and a BNSF-Santa Fe
Warbonnet 660. Also a sharp-looking CN unit, No. 2720. I included a few
shots of snow around the Brinkley depot, plus some snow scenes of the
Hazen, Arkansas renovated Rock Island depot. Trains today: UP 3555,
9539, 4642 *** Conrail 6742 *** Santa Fe-BNSF Warbonnet 660 *** CN 2720.
LRWN - RIVER TRAIL, MARCH 10-13,
2008
- Little Rock & Western showed up at Union Station on Thursday,
March 13, 2008, as well as a few other trains. Also a scene of the
Baring Cross bridge taken from the bike trail that used to be the
Missouri Pacific's river line in Little Rock. Seen today: AKMD 722 ***
LRWN 7736 *** UP 3135, 2006 *** NS 9965 *** MKT green hopper HLMX 4140
*** 'Cotton' hopper without the 'Belt'
BRINKLEY, AR MARCH 15, 2008
-
Saturday, March 15, 2008 at Brinkley, Arkansas. Not many trains today.
Included are: UP 4978, 8330, 9527, 7622 *** CSX 692 *** BNSF 6022 ***
Short Tate&Lyle STSX 52102 tankcar *** Posing redbird *** My
long-lost relative painted on a railcar.
COLORFUL SIGNALS LITTLE ROCK
MARCH 17, 2008
- Colorful signals at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas on March
17, 2008. These were on the north side of the station. UP's North
Little Rock yards are located around the curve and across the Arkansas
River to the left. The green signal to the right indicates that a
freight is lined up to pass on the Amtrak siding, which is unusual but
does happen once a day or so. This train will take the switch to the
second track (Main 2) just beyond this signal. The lower of the stacked
dwarf signals indicates the track is lined for another freight to cross
over from the second track to the third track (from Main 2 to Main 1).
The green high-ball signal under the bridge means
the
train that switches from the Amtrak siding to Main 2 has the track to
UP's yards, after crossing the Baring Cross bridge over the Arkansas
River. The two yellow signals to the left indicate that a train will
cross from Main 2 to Main 1 just past the dwarf signals, then cross the
Baring Cross bridge, then head west on the Van Buren Sub to Fort Smith
(this train was an empty coal train). The red signal just beyond the
4th track (which belongs to the shortline Little Rock & Western
RR)
means that any LRWN train that arrives has to stop here until it gets a
yellow or green signal.
Photo included of the intermodal that passed on
the Amtrak
siding headed by UP 4282 and KCS 4596. (Ken Ziegenbein photos - sent to
Yahoo's Railspot group and Railway-Signaling group)
AMTRAK STATION VERY BUSY MARCH
21, 2008
- Northbound Amtrak Texas Eagle No. 22 was turned to become
the
southbound No. 21 at Little Rock the night of (March 21).
Passengers were bused between Little Rock and St Louis and St Louis to
Little Rock due to the tracks between St Louis and Poplar Bluff having
flood damage. Five buses were sent north to St Louis and 6 buses were
sent south out of St Louis to Little Rock. A large crowd of over 200,
including a group from the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, were at
the station. A similar count will be brought to Little Rock from St
Louis heading south. All this activity occurred in the middle of the
night from about 10:30 p.m. to 4 a.m.
To help out, both Little Rock agents Richard Finch
and
Larry Highfill, were on duty, along with Amtrak's Joy Smith and Dallas
Agent Jim Cameron, whom Joy picked up on her way to Little Rock to help
out. Bill Pollard also was there to help with the logistics. I took
many photos, some of which are included below. I didn't use flash
except for taking the photo of the Amtrak agents and helpers, since it
would have been rude for all the passengers to be blinded by flashes in
the middle of the night. As a result, some photos are a little dark,
but they do show the excitement and activity of this night.
It
was really an exciting atmosphere, noisy and crowded.
The consist of No. 22 that arrived and turned was:
Locomotives 182 and 206, followed by Superliners 39022, 32009, 38062
(diner), 33033 (Sightseer Lounge, which will stay on the Eagle through
at least the summer), 31024, 34041 and 34061. Number 22 arrived about
1:40 a.m. I've also included a couple of shots of freights.
BRINKLEY, AR MARCH 22, 2008
-
Seen today at Brinkley, Arkansas: UP 2002 - Olympic unit *** UP 5324,
2299 *** CN 5739, 2690, 5531 ('zebra' stripes), 1035 (or 1039).
NCAA BASKETBALL FANS, STREETCARS
AND MIAMI
HURRICANE CHEERLEADERS LITTLE ROCK MARCH 21-23, 2008
- The
NCAA first round South regional basketball tournament was held at
Alltel Arena in North Little Rock, AR from March 21 thru March 23,
2008, which meant tons of riders for the central Arkansas streetcars.
Here are some pictures of that, plus some of the crowds. Included are
four Miami Hurricane cheerleaders.
25-UNIT LIGHT ENGINE MOVE INTO
NORTH LITTLE
ROCK, APRIL 3, 2008 - UP ran a 25-unit
locomotive light move
from Roseville, California to North Little Rock, Arkansas, leaving
Roseville March 28, 2008, arriving North Little Rock 1:58 p.m.n
Thursday, April 3, 2008. Here are some photos of the train
arriving at North Little Rock April 3. (Many thanks to George Porter,
Mike Harris and John C. Jones for the heads-up). Consist of
this
engine move was all UP. UP 8417 lead, followed by UP 2327, 2399, 9290,
3140, 2263, 2282, 9169, 2437, 8755, 8810 (SP), 3724, 3230, 3462, 3346,
9144, 9254, 9346, 7882, 3112, 3188, 3699, 2255, 2292, and 2200.
LITTLE ROCK AND BRINKLEY TRAINS
APRIL 5-6,
2008 - Saturday and Sunday, April 5 and 6, 2008
at Little
Rock and Brinkley, Arkansas. Here's some selected photos from both
days, including: Trailer on a flatcar at the end of a UPS intermodal
with "Texas Agriculture - GO TEXAN" on the end and "Michael Angelo's"
on the side *** Rio Grande GP-60 No. 1900, patched, one of only 3
GP-60s built for the DRG *** KCS 4542, 4513, 4534 *** Conrail 8809 ***
CSX 8609, 7506, 8837 *** UP 2376, 1822, 5318, 2427, 3527, 2477, 6201,
8586 *** BNSF 5233, 5498 *** New bright green BRIX hopper 97357 ***
Artsy black, shiny tank cars reflecting the yellow warning stripe on
the Amtrak platform *** Norfolk and Western hi-cube boxcar *** US Coast
& Geodetic Survey Benchmark on Brinkley Union Depot *** Cherry
and
lime candy cigarettes (i.e., a load of pipes with pink and green
ends). (All photos and humor by Ken Ziegenbein)
As a sideline, after over 12 inches of rain during
the
past couple of weeks in Missouri and the northern half of Arkansas, the
White and Cache Rivers were flooding as of this date, including the
Dagmar area west of Brinkley. The entire White River and Cache River
National Wildlife Refuges are under water, including the old Rock
Island grade west of Brinkley. The UP's busy line through the refuge
has not been affected, however. Where I normally go to photograph birds
is now under 3-4 feet of water and accessible only by boat.
US 70
runs through this refuge and you can see all the water on both sides of
the road. Millions of gnats and other small bugs are all over the place
in this area, and made quite a mess of my windshield. Snakes are also
starting to come out, and I saw dead raccoons, snakes, skunks, possums,
birds every quarter mile or so on Highway 70, all hit by
autos.
(Ken Z)
PICTURESQUE SCENE OF TRAIN AND
SKY,
BRINKLEY, AR, APRIL 12, 2008 - Although not a
rare site in
this part of eastern Arkansas at Brinkley on the UP, CN 5738's bright
red/black color contrasted nicely today (Saturday, April 12) with a
deep blue sky containing a couple of birds and two small clouds. The
scene was further enhanced by low, early morning sunlight. (Ken
Ziegenbein photo)
LITTLE ROCK, AR APRIL 13, 2008
-
Sunday, April 13, 2008 at Little Rock. Included today:UP 9693, 4727,
9728, 6519,1540, 2389, 4610, 9140, 5527 *** CSX 5223, 9010 *** KCS 4012
*** NS 9073, 9355 *** 8-axle flatcar *** KRL heavy-hauler 45828.
UP 1995 - CNW HERITAGE - NORTH
LITTLE ROCK
APRIL 22, 2008 - UP Heritage locomotive 1995
(Chicago and
NorthWestern unit) in North Little Rock, Arkansas, April 22, 2008. This
unit has been on a circle routing within Arkansas the past week or so,
usually running southward through Brinkley, Pine Bluff, then north to
North Little Rock, Bald Knob, Jonesboro, then south again on the same
route. This is the first time this heritage unit has been in
the
state. It came in on the MPRPB, went to North Little Rock, AR
on
the YPB71. From there it went out on the MNLME, and came back
on
the MNVPB. From Pine Bluff, AR it went north on the MPBJB
(Jonesboro Local). It come back south on the MJBNL.
Once it
got to North Little Rock, AR it went north on the MNLAS. (From 'mad-dog' on Trainorders.com)
BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS APRIL 26,2008
- Saturday, April 26, 2008 at Brinkley, Arkansas. I took advantage of a
slow order of trains passing the depot in the afternoon to try some
different photographic angles. On most days, by the time I hear the
locomotive's horn at the crossing just north of the depot,
it's
passing the station so I just get the shot through the window. Included
today: CSX 7629, 7870 *** UP 9657, 6468, 8558, 4974, 4838 *** Columbus
& Greenville boxcar *** NEGRO De HUMO - NEGROMEX hopper ENDX
455325
(I've never seen this name on a hopper).
LITTLE ROCK, AR APRIL 27, 2008
-
A cool (50s) and rainy day in Little Rock, Arkansas, Sunday April 27,
2008. Included today was an 'almost' unpatched Santa Fe unit, No. 640
and since the Warbonnet scheme of Santa Fe is one of my favorites, I
got
several pictures of it in this 'rare' territory. Also today: UP 8552,
4634, 2725 *** NS 8923 *** BNSF 983, 7728 *** 'Jesus Saves' on black
tank car.
BURNED UP 9697, FRANKLIN, TX
APRIL 29, 2008
- A blackened UP 9697 next to US Highway 79 in Franklin, Texas (east of
Hearne), on April 29, 2008. The lady at the service station
said
she thought this locomotive was involved in a crossing accident with a
semi a few days before.
NEW ULM, TEXAS MAY 1, 2008
-
Thursday, May 1, 2008 in New Ulm, Texas. UP 7562 heads a Sealy-bound
rock train on the Smithville Sub, milepost 113.80.
SEALY, TEXAS MAY 3, 2008
-
Saturday, May 3, 2008 at Sealy and New Ulm, Texas on the UP and BNSF.
Both Sealy and New Ulm are located on the former Katy RR Smithville
Sub, which runs between Smithville and Katy, Texas. UP now owns this
sub and has trackage rights on the BNSF at Sealy to connect with UP's
Sunset line at Rosenberg. Sealy and New Ulm are located about 70 and 90
miles northwest of Houston respectively.
Trains today at New Ulm: UP 7541. At Sealy, BNSF
753 and
7721, and UP 7523 using the connection to the BNSF from the Smithville
sub. I met Matthew Dittert (on the Railspot Yahoo Group) at
Sealy. (Ken Ziegenbein photos).
GLIDDEN, TEXAS ON THE UP SUNSET
LINE MAY 6,
2008 - Tuesday, May 6, 2008 just west of
Glidden, Texas on
UP's Sunset Line. One empty gondola train today headed by UP 7532, a
westbound up the hill from Glidden close to Milepost 205. Glidden is
just west of Columbus, Texas, about 90 miles west of Houston. The
Sunset Limited uses this line.
MOPAC JUNCTION BRIDGE OPENS AS
PEDESTRIAN
TRAIL MAY 17, 2008 - The Junction Railroad
Bridge across the
Arkansas River between Little Rock and North Little Rock, Arkansas was
reopened as a pedestrian and biking bridge on Saturday, May 17, 2008.
Dedication was held at 10:30 a.m. with thousands attending on the
bridge. This bridge once belonged to the Missouri Pacific Railroad,
then Union Pacific got it when they merged with the MoPac in 1982. UP
closed the bridge to rail traffic in 1985, according to the press
release. UP ceded the bridge to the city of Little Rock in 1999.
Through the inter-local agreement, the bridge was leased for 99 years
to the Pulaski County Facilities Board for the purpose of developing
the pedestrian/bicycle bridge.
Construction work for the conversion began in 2007
with
total project costs of $5,800,000 from local, state and federal
transportation funds. The bridge is believed to be the only 'lift-span"
bridge that has been converted to a pedestrian/bicycle bridge in the
United States. The lift-span is locked into place in a raised position
to allow barge traffic to go under on the Arkansas River. Visitors to
the bridge may go the entire length of the bridge by riding elevators
up or down from the 360-foot lift span. The overall length of the
bridge is 1,800 feet. The original paint is being left on the bridge to
signify its age, although some areas have been modernized and painted
in a fresh coat of blue paint.
McClelland Engineers was the project engineering
firm and
May Construction was the general contractor. Both are headquartered in
Little Rock. Eighty percent of the funding for the renovation was
provided by grants from the Federal Transportation budget through the
Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department. The remaining 20
percent match was provided by road and bridge funds of the Cities of
Little Rock and North Little Rock as well as Pulaski County.
The Junction Bridge is a component of the Six
Bridges
Plan. In 1999, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Donaghey
Project for Urban Studies and Design developed the Six Bridges
Framework Plan. The Six Bridges from west to east are: Baring Cross
Bridge (currently the mainline bridge used by Union Pacific on its
directional-north line into the North Little Rock's UP yards),
Broadway Bridge (US 70B highway bridge), Main Street Bridge (on which
the Central Arkansas River Rail's streetcars run on Main Street),
Junction Bridge, I-30 Bridge (Interstate 30 starts in North Little Rock
and runs to Fort Worth, Texas), and Rock Island Bridge (currently
belongs to the Clinton Library people and supposedly will one day
become another pedestrian bridge).
A little more about this historic bridge from the
press
release and my occasional comments:
1) Lift span is now raised 38 feet above the fixed
bridge
span. It had originally been 32 feet at max height above the fixed
span. It was raised the additional 6 feet because of alignment
purposes. Once the span was lifted, support beams were installed using
cranes operating from a barge.
2) The Junction Bridge was originally constructed
in 1884
as a railroad bridge by the Choctaw and Memphis Railroad and operated
by the Union Pacific Railroad (?? -I'm not sure about this). Originally
constructed to connect the Little Rock and Fort Smith rail line with
the Little Rock, Mississippi River and Texas Railway.
3) Since 1985, the Junction Bridge has not
operated in any
capacity. (According to John Jones, a USPS special train operated on
the bridge sometime in the 1990s as a special move).
DPU'S ON INTERMODALS LITTLE ROCK
MAY 17 AND
19, 2008 - LOCUST STREET NLR VIEWS - Here's two
intermodals
with DPU's passing the station in Little Rock, Arkansas on May 17 and
May 19, 2008. Plus a photo of a hopper with "Census - Count Yourself In
- May 15 - 2001" from Canada and some photos taken off the Locust
Street Bridge at UP's North Little Rock yards. Included: UP
7898,
7680, 7735, 5499.
BRINKLEY MAY 31 AND LITTLE ROCK
MAY 29, 2008
- Saturday, May 31, 2008 at Brinkley, Arkansas and one shot in Little
Rock May 29. Included: UP 4873, 2379, 2415, 4132 *** NS 9518,
9247 *** CSX 8721, 5346 *** BNSF 4794.
LITTLE ROCK, JUNE 2, 2008
-
Monday, June 2, 2008 at the station in Little Rock. Included today: UP
7813, 4600, 9288, 2301, 9103 *** CN 5268, a single engine move.
MEET OF LRWN AND FERROMEX-UP
TRAIN LITTLE
ROCK JUNE 3, 2008 - Tuesday, June 3, 2008. A
rare meet of
the Little Rock & Western (coming from Perry, Arkansas on their
own
line) and a Ferromex locomotive heading a train on the UP
Main
passing Union Station. Had I had one more glass of water for lunch, I'd
have missed them. Included are: Ferromex 4637 *** LRWN 7736
***
AKMD 722 *** NS 2665 *** UP 9407 *** String of Canadian hoppers *** KCS
coil car 720118 being hauled on a flatcar with its trucks on the
flatcar as well.
17-UNIT ENGINE MOVE OF SD40S
LITTLE ROCK TO
OGDEN UTAH, JUNE 4, 2008 - Union Pacific ran a
special
17-unit 'SD40 funeral train' past Union Station in Little Rock,
Arkansas on Wednesday, June 4, 2008. This train started at Pine Bluff,
Arkansas about 4 p.m. and got to the station about 5:45 p.m., where it
waited on the Amtrak siding for a southbound UP train and the westbound
Little Rock & Western train to clear the track. It left the
station
at 6:28 p.m. Its' ID is EPBOG-3, Pine Bluff to Ogden, Utah.
(Ken
Ziegenbein photos - thanks to Mr. C for the heads-up)
Here is the consist, all Union Pacific -
5040--power
unit - 9216--power unit - 2911 - 2944 - 2963 - 2974 - 3025 - 3050 -
3095 - 3096 - 3192 - 3383 - 8702 - 2883 - 2956 - 3157 - 3326
BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS JUNE 7, 2008
- Saturday, June 7, 2008 at Brinkley, Arkansas (half-way between Little
Rock and Memphis on I-40 in eastern Arkansas). Included today are (13
trains today): UP9544, 4398, 8591, 5209, 4377, 9201 *** CSX 5375 *** CN
5793, 5360 *** UNKNOWN 8466 *** NS 9890, 2560. Two KRL heavy haulers.
RED FLAG-BANNER TEST LITTLE ROCK
JUNE 8,
2008- Here are twelve photos taken Sunday, June
8, 2008 at
Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas. There was a red flag/banner
test done on two trains while we were there, about 930 a.m. According
to Steve Graham: "It's called a banner test and can only be done if a
train is running at restricted speed (by either being talked by a red
signal or running in yard/restricted limits). It tests the
crews
ability to stop within 1 half the range of vision and short of any
obstructions (i.e. trains, switches lined against them, people on
tracks, etc...) which is a requirement for restricted speed.
It's
a common test performed on crews by management and is required by the
Feds. - Steve Grabman"
MARSHALL, TEXAS - GERANIUMS AND
TRAINS JUNE
9, 2008 - Geraniums and Trains. June 9, 2008 at
the
Marshall, Texas depot. Included are: CSX 7891, 13 *** UP 4941, 4048,
2431 *** UPY 1443 *** CN 5356 *** KCS boxcar on a flatcar.
BNSF-UP IN TEXAS JUNE 10 AND 12,
2008
- On June 10 and 12, 2008, I railfanned the BNSF from Milano to Sealy,
Texas. With other commitments, I didn't have time to spend more than
about an hour at various places waiting on trains, so I only got 3
moving BNSF trains during those two days, and a couple of photos of
standing trains. Also included is the UP at Gauze, Texas, which is west
of Hearne. Moving BNSF trains were at Somerville, north of Caldwell and
just south of Somerville. I did stake out some good sites, though, such
as at Caldwell near the BNSF signal maintainer office and at Kenney,
Texas. Seen were: BNSF 9344, 9934, 4353, 4991, 4670, 4456, 7562, 720
*** UP 7557 *** NS 9483 *** Kenney site, cat and
butterflies.
LITTLE ROCK, JUNE 14, 2008
- A good variety of roadnames today, including: NS 9700, 8727 *** SP
8674 unpatched, SP/UP 2741 *** CSX 7349 *** RIO GRANDE 1900 *** KCS
4548, 4523 *** UP 5497, 3876, 3973.
EMERGENCY 911 CALL MADE FOR
SOMEONE IN NEED
- BNSF TRAIN - LITTLE ROCK JUNE 15, 2008 -
Sunday, June 15,
2008 at Little Rock.
We called 911 for a lady who had apparently been beaten somewhere in
town and had walked past us at the station, asking us to call the
police. We did via a cell phone and the police and medics arrived about
6 minutes later. They took her away in an ambulance. While
all
this
was going on, a train headed by BNSF 6762 came by, and that train
plus
one more are the only two I photographed today (also got UP 5827).
NRHS
QUANAH ZEPHYR BETWEEN FORT WORTH AND QUANAH, TX JUNE 21, 2008
- The
North Texas Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society held the
NRHS' National Convention in Fort Worth, Texas the week of June 16,
2008. Here are photos of the special train excursion between Fort Worth
and Quanah, Texas (Quanah Zephyr) on the BNSF, using the former
Burlington (FW&D) line, a very rare mileage trip.
We stopped on a siding 5 miles south of Henrietta
next to
a stopped loaded coal train on the track to the right of us. This
siding was called the Dick Worsham siding. There was a trespasser
going between the coal cars that had an axe and had spray painted his
face blue. The BNSF Agent arrested the man. He had apparently loosened
a couple of air hoses, so the coal train had to be inspected before we
could get back on the main line. This incident cost us one hour of
time. We stopped for passengers at Wichita Falls before
getting
to Quanah.
The best thing about this trip was the FANTASTIC
reception
given for us by the city of Quanah. They rolled out the red carpet,
even having 'red caps' directing us to attractions. They Quanah Route
depot museum and other museums in town were full of excellent exhibits,
including railroad history and other historical artifacts. Worth a trip
back to see everything. They also fed us half-pound grilled hamburgers,
freshly grilled just outside the eating facility. There were hundreds
that showed up when the train arrived, along with horse-drawn carriages
and festive mounted flag-bearers.
The train left Fort Worth at 7 a.m., returning to
Fort
Worth at 9:05 p.m. Everyone had a great time, although it was a long
day.
An interesting sideline: I created this entire
webpage on
my laptop while traveling on Amtrak 22 (Texas Eagle) from Fort Worth to
Little Rock on June 22 in a regular coach.
AMTRAK TRIP LITTLE ROCK TO FORT WORTH, JUNE 19 AND 22, 2008 FOR NRHS
CONVENTION
- Dark, stormy skies and Superliners at Longview, Texas June 19 - Round
trip on the Texas Eagle Little Rock-Fort Worth June 19 and 22 with
inside and outside photos - Train watching in Saginaw and North Fort
Worth, Texas near old tower 60 - Locomotives seen: BNSF 7752, 6894
(Santa Fe blue and yellow), 3166 (Santa Fe blue and yellow), 8060 ***
UP 4632, 5900 *** BNSF Gensets 1287, 1291. The reason for my trip was
to attend the National National Railway Historical Society convention
in
Fort Worth.
LITTLE ROCK JUNE 28, 29, 2008
- June 28 and 29, 2008 at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas. Seen
were: UP 7111, 9546, 2686(SP), 9076, 4408, 4210,4238,3969, 4277, 4578
*** CONRAIL 8812 *** NS 9880 *** BNSF-SF Warbonnet 630.
AMTRAK'S TEXAS EAGLE #21
SOUTHBOUND, JUNE 29, 2008
- On Sunday, June 29, 2008, Amtrak's southbound Texas Eagle, Number 21,
was about 5 hours late into Little Rock and here are some photos of the
train and many passengers who got off and on.
LITTLE ROCK, AR JULY 4, 2008
- Boy and his mother watching trains at the station in Little Rock, AR
July 4 plus a couple of trains. Included today: UP 3804, 7717 *** Two
loads of logs *** HS-AD&N boxcar 30717.
KCS 4106 BELLE ON A WORK TRAIN
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR JULY 4, 2008
- KCS 4106 headed a UP dump/rock/work train on the Van Buren Sub at
13th Street in North Little Rock, Arkansas on July 4, 2008. This train
was sitting here for a couple of hours.. I took the photos about 11
a.m. (Thanks to Dale Dudley for the heads up)
BRINKLEY, AR JULY 5, 2008
- Saturday, July 5, 2008 at Brinkley, Arkansas at the Depot Museum.
Much of the day was dark with areas of rain. Included today: UP 3923,
7824,2918, 9826, 2434 *** CSX 7785 *** Peninsula Terminal
boxcar
HS 75397.
BRINKLEY,
AR JULY 12, 2008
- Saturday, July 12, 2008 at the Brinkley Depot Museum in
Brinkley, Arkansas. Perfect, sunny day. Included today were:
1) 2:01 p.m. - NS 8865, CN 579(?) - mixed train.
KRL heavy haulers 48016 and 45829 were in the middle of the train.
2) 2:40 p.m - UP 3992, CN 5930 - intermodal (UPS)
3) 3:22 p.m. - UP 9768, UP 2310 - mixed train.
4) 3:37 p.m. - CSX 576, UP 9652, CSX 871(?) - mixed train.
5) 4:21 p.m. - UP 5170, UP 9433 with a long empty intermodal flat train
from West Memphis.
6) 4:45 p.m. - CSX 8427, CSX 8063, HLCX (??) - mixed train had 3
Chessie Cat boxcars in a row but no photos.
7) 5:44 p.m. - CONRAIL 7305, CSX 8236 - autorack train.
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS JULY 13,
2008
- Sunday, July 13, 2008 at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas. A
little excitement today as a train went into emergency in front of the
station after two cars became uncoupled. Plus a rare Sunday Little Rock
& Western train passed the station. Included today:
1) 11:15 a.m. - train separated after becoming uncoupled.
2) 11:26 a.m. - UP/SP 2715 on southbound.
3) 12:18 p.m. - UP 5692 with LRWN train rounding curve in background.
4) 12:22 p.m. - LRWN 102, Arkansas Midland 722
5) 12:28 p.m. - UP 5469
6) 12:32 p.m. - UP 8645
7) 12:42 p.m. - LRWN train taken from the Cantrell Road overpass.
8) 1:19 p.m. - UP 5345
9) 1:21 p.m. - UP/SP 9647, former SP 8183, a GE C44-9W, the last SP
8100-series not painted in UP yellow.
10) 1:35 p.m. - UP 5345, AKMD 722, UP 6836, all 3 trains in one photo
11) 1:44 p.m. - UP 5925DPU, AKMD 722 and UP 5345 all on one photo.
STREETCARS ON 3RD STREET-LITTLE
ROCK JULY 15, 2008
- Here's a few streetcar scenes on a bright, sunny day on 3rd Street in
Little Rock, Arkansas (July 15, 2008). Included are views looking both
ways on 3rd Street, some looking toward the Clinton Presidential
Library and some looking toward downtown Little Rock. I took some from
under the I-30 over pass, which the streetcars go under on their way to
the Clinton Library stop.
LITTLE
ROCK-JACKSONVILLE-CABOT-BEEBE, ARKANSAS JULY 20 AND 22, 2008
- Here's a few photos from several locations in Arkansas on July 20 and
22, 2008. Included are:
JULY 20 at Union Station, Little Rock:
1) 10:56 a.m. - UP 2502-CN 5923
2) Unknown load on IM flat
3) 11:10 a.m - UP 1539 with long consist
4) UP 2462 with what looks like a fresh paint job
5) Unknown name on gondola
JULY 22 (Tuesday):
1) 10:34 a.m. - Jacksonville, AR - UP 9581 southbound
2) Old UP shield on boxcar (IFRX517569)
3) Two cars of finished logs/poles on the end of the train
4) 11:12 a.m. - Cabot, AR (MP 322.92) - UP inspection truck
5) 11:13 a.m. - UP 3857
6) 11:32 a.m. - Beebe, AR - photo of MoPac depot, now used as a beauty
salon
7) Old baggage cart at Beebe depot
8)
Several fuel trucks crossing the UP's double tracks on South Main
Street in Beebe, a potentially dangerous, nightmarish scenario.
TRAIN PHOTOS FROM ACROSS ARKANSAS
JULY 26, 2008
- Saturday, July 26, 2008 at various places in Arkansas, including:
Marion (BNSF's Fedex Intermodal Yard and UP's large Intermodal facility
at Ebony), Sunset, Marked Tree, Gilmore, Jericho, Hunter, Brinkley and
Little Rock. This was the unofficial Train Picture Day in North
America, so I wanted to get several towns with trains. Another group of
Arkansas Railroad Club members went north of Little Rock to railfan the
BNSF in north Arkansas. We all started the day at 5 a.m. (Ken
Ziegenbein photos)
Included today:
1) BNSF 5704, dpu on a coal train at Marion, AR, 7:59 a.m. (near West
Memphis, AR in extreme east Arkansas)
2) Photo of the Marion Intermodal Facility of the BNSF through the
fence.
3) Harvard Yard in Marion.
4)
CSX 4737, BNSF 325, BNSF 4358, BNSF 1024 on a mixed train northbound,
crossing Highway 135 on an overpass (a few miles south of Marked Tree)
at 8:40 a.m.
5) Same train at Marked Tree, AR at 8:50 a.m.
6) BNSF 5318, CN5433 southbound at Marked Tree, 9:02 a.m.
7) CSX 4737 leaves Marked Tree northbound at 9:05 a.m. These two trains
passed.
8) BNSF 5318 at Gilmore, AR, 9:36 a.m.
9) BNSF 5318-CN 5433, Jericho, 9:50 a.m.
10) UP Ebony Yard at 10:08 a.m. (Ebony is just outside Marion)
11) Diesel Supply Co. yard unit No. 189 at Ebony
12) NS 9162, Fair Oaks, 11:16 a.m.
13) NS 9162, Hunter, 11:31 a.m. (I had a heck of a time getting ahead
of it!)
14) UP 2414, CN 5534(?), Brinkley, 1:59 a.m.
15) UP 9390, Brinkley, 2:14 p.m.
16) UP 9687, 6:04 p.m., Union Station, Little Rock
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS JULY 27,
2008 - Included today:
1) BNSF 5174 and SF/BNSF blue-yellow 6484 with unit grain train
(trackage rights) - 10:00 a.m.
2) UP 5103 - 10:36 a.m.
3) UP/SP 2712, 8674, 2715 - 11:37 a.m.
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS AUGUST 1
AND 3, 2008-
Here's a few trains at Little Rock, Arkansas passing Union Station,
Sunday August 3, 2008 plus one photo of a Central Arkansas Transit
streetcar taken August 1. Included today:
1) River Rail Streetcar 411, August 1, 12:29 p.m.
2) UP 5147, 8:56 a.m.
3) UP 7198, 9:05 a.m.
4) UP 6845, DPU of coal train headed by 7198.
5) UP 4868, 9:35 a.m.
6) UP 4370, 9:47 a.m.
7) Our crew of railfans, under the shade tree in the parking lot.
8) Engine move from Biddle to the North Little Rock yards at 9:57 a.m.
headed by UP 1930.
9) UP 1917-1370 and 1336.
10) UP 4767, 10:05 a.m.
11) Two CSX units, 7780 and 7834, come by at 10:17 a.m.
12) Old and worn SP hi-cube.
13) Ashley, Drew & Northern boxcar (HS 30716).
14) UP 550, 10:57 a.m.
15) Long string of new (since the spring) CITX hoppers, exterior
applied in Paragould, AR 03-2008.
16) UP-SP 2741, the second train to use the Amtrak siding, at 12:01 p.m.
17) Train and helicopter.
It was 100-plus degrees later in the day, I think the 4th or
5th
straight day it's been over 100. However, due to all the spring rains,
Little Rock is over 4 inches above normal in rainfall in 2008 so far,
thus the green grass and rather lush trees. This did make for
a
very high humidity level, however, which made Heat Index readings
between 110 and 115 degrees during the past 4 afternoons. UP had a
heat-related speed restriction through here and most of the system in
Arkansas.
BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS, AUGUST 9, 2008
- Saturday, August 9, 2008 at Brinkley, Arkansas on the Jonesboro Sub
UP's main line through eastern Arkansas (formerly Cotton Belt). It was
unusually 'cool' for this time of year, only in the upper 80s with
clouds moving in from the north and rain by evening. Included today are
9 trains with 19 locomotives:
1) UP 2502, 9:24 a.m.
2) NS 9275, UP 2161, 10:48 a.m.
3)
UP 5102 on the line from West Memphis being passed by a BNSF grain
train on the Jonesboro Sub, headed by BNSF 7737, 6701 with DPU 4994 -
11:57 a.m.
4) UP 9727, 2406, 4115 - 1:27 p.m.
5) UP 9490, 9280, 1858 - 1:42 p.m.
6) CSX 7318, 8410 - 2:15 p.m.
7) BNSF 7739, 8608, 2761 (in BN green), 126 (Warbonnet) from West
Memphis - 2:20 p.m.
8) CSX 7782, single unit - 2:59 p.m.
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, AUGUST 10,
2008
- It was unusually cool and dark for an August day with drizzle and
light rain all day. The temperature hovered around 71 degrees all day,
normal being in the lower 90s. Just a week earlier, it was 105 degrees
one day. I included a few shots of the UP yard and downtown Little Rock
in the fog taken from the Main Street bridge. There was a streetcar in
one shot. Trains today:
1) PBRX boxcar 200629, 10:56 a.m.
2) UP 9425 on dump train, 11:04 a.m.
3) UP 9819-NS 9069, 11:16 am.
4) CN 2520-CN 5794, 11:27 a.m.
5) UP 8328-4120, 11:37 a.m.
6) UP 4729-3631-3663, 11:53 a.m.
7) UP 5893-4516, 12:08 p.m.
8) Southern Hi-cube clean boxcar plus a line of hi-cubes boxcar.
9) UP 9475-6831-8654, 12:26 p.m.
10) Hutchinson Northern boxcar No. EEC 229
11) CSX 7824-CR 7920, 12:38 p.m.
12) BNSF 1053-7522-4138, 1:03 p.m.
13) Fog scenes
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, AUGUST 16,
2008
- I didn't go to Brinkley today to the museum, so I went to the station
in Little Rock. It was a coolish day with temperatures in the 70s.
There were nine locomotives on one southbound mixed train, including a
KCS Belle unit. Included today:
1) Flock of geese flew overhead about 9 a.m.
2) UP 9355, 9:23 a.m.
3) UP 4108, 10:50 a.m.
4) Line of Canadian hoppers
5) UP 4577, 10:50 a.m.
6) UP 5126, also 10:50 a.m. (passing other train)
7) GMTX 5126
8)
UP 9603 plus eight other colorful locomotives leading a long southbound
mixed train at 11:13 a.m. Other locos in this consist include KCS 4586,
CSX 7780, KCS 4101 (Belle colors), UP 6341 plus four other UP units.
9) Cities Service Company hopper
10) Shiny, new white tankers.
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE DELAY AT
LITTLE ROCK SEPTEMBER 12, 2008
- Friday, September 12, 2008. Amtrak southbound Texas Eagle No. 21
arrived at the station in Little Rock at 6:24 a.m. but didn't leave
until 10:50 a.m. due to congestion on the UP, mostly intermodal trains.
Part of the problem was the Baring Cross drawbridge over the Arkansas
River, which had some trouble being raised and lowered during the
previous night. This caused a large backlog of freights south of the
bridge, which were moved northbound once the bridge was fixed.
Unfortunately for Amtrak, it was stuck on the Amtrak siding for nearly
4 and a half hours waiting on the northbound intermodals.
Here are some photos of this action, with some photos being taken from
the Cantrell Road overpass looking down at Union Station. Intermodals
were on both Main One and Main Two making for a very busy station scene.
BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS SEPTEMBER 13,
2008
- Saturday, September 13, 2008 at Brinkley, Arkansas with dark
clouds rolling in ahead of Tropical Storm Ike, which had made landfall
in Houston, Texas in the wee hours of Saturday morning as a category 2
hurricane. The center of the remnants was just southwest of Texarkana
in Northeast Texas late Saturday afternoon, still showing a good
circulation and bands of thunderstorms began moving into Arkansas with
several tornado warnings being issued.
Seen today:
1) NS 9311, 10:29 a.m.
2) UP EC-5 track inspection vehicle, 12:56 p.m.
3) CSX 8565, 3:22 p.m.
4) Chessie boxcars
5) Dark cloud photos
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, SEPTEMBER
19-20, 2008 - Including a train and a football
game in the same shot.
1) UP 8189 from Main Street bridge in North Little Rock looking across
tracks at Jenks Shops on September 19, 10:15 a.m.
2) UP 4742, September 20, 8:57 a.m.
3)
UP 4742 with a middle school football game in the background (the
Episcopal Collegiate 6-12 grade school is just across the tracks from
Union Station)
4) UP 4185, 9:28 a.m.
5) CSX 7314 and 664, 9:32 a.m. in two paint schemes.
6) UP 2163, 10:32 a.m.
7) CSX 7876.
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, SEPTEMBER
21, 2008 - Sunday, September 21, 2008 at Little
Rock, Arkansas. Seen today:
1) UP 9696, former CNW at 9:11 a.m.
2) UP 5319, 9:43 a.m.
3) NS 8996, 10:03 a.m.
4) UP 7847, 10:33 a.m. with special effects added
5) UP 1539, 11:15 a.m.
6) Arkansas Midland 726, 11:15 a.m.
7) DME boxcar
8) UP 2715, former SP, 11:24 a.m.
9) UP 4250, 11:28 a.m.
10) UP 2318, 11:36 a.m.
BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS TRAINS AND
FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 27, 2008 - Saturday,
September 27, 2008 at Brinkley, Arkansas. Included today:
1) CSX 7498, 2:22 p.m.
2) CSX 5325, 2:58 a.m.
3) ADN/HS boxcar 30551
4) UP 4790, 3:10 p.m.
5) UP 4104, 4:00 p.m. with my Happy Halloween graphics!
SEMAPHORE-TRAIN ORDER
SIGNAL-LONOKE, AR ON ABANDONED ROCK ISLAND, SEPTEMBER 27
- Lonoke, Arkansas (15 miles east of Little Rock on I-40/US 70) still
has a semaphore (actually a train order signal) at its original
location next to the Rock Island depot, also at its original site.
There is even a small section of Rock Island track in front of the
depot that was never removed when the rest of the Rock's tracks were
pulled up in the 1980s. Below are some photos. I also took a
few
shots of the Hazen, Arkansas Rock Island depot and another type of old
Rock Island signal (Hazen is about 20 miles east of Lonoke on the same
abandoned Rock Island Sunbelt line) . There's a whole block of original
Rock Island track through downtown Hazen as well. As I've
said in
an earlier post on this area, these two Arkansas towns, plus Carlisle
and Brinkley, did a great job of preserving their railroad heritage by
saving the Rock Island's depots.
BNSF LOCAL ON LRWN-OTHER TRAINS
LITTLE ROCK SEPTEMBER 28, 2008
- Sunday, September 28, 2008 at Little Rock, Arkansas. Included is a
rare Sunday morning BNSF local move over the Little Rock &
Western
(ne. Rock Island) out to the siding behind Harvest Foods on Cantrell
Road. It was a bright sunny day. Included:
1) UP 4189, 8:13 a.m.
2) Unknown type of equipment on flatcar.
3) UP 5104, 8:37 a.m.
4) New UTLX tank car
5) BNSF blue/yellow 3186, BNSF 2011 on BNSF local
6) UP 5474 in same scene as BNSF 3186, 9:36 a.m.
7) UP 5015 and 8173 passing each other, 12:04 p.m.
8) New Potlatch hopper
9) BNSF Warbonnet 644, 12:36 a.m.
BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS OCTOBER 4, 2008
- Saturday, October 4, 2008 at Brinkley, Arkansas. Only 4 trains today,
including:
1) UP 3818, 7800, 11:28 a.m.
2) UP yellow boxcar NWR 6022 with UP shield
3) Conrail, NYC 885377 hopper
4) Five-unit CSX train with CSX 7704, 5299, 7906, 5490 and 7571 at
12:18 p.m.
5) String of TBOX/TTX yellow boxcars
6) UP 5183, 4605, 1:20 p.m.
7) CN 5459, 6110, 1:50 p.m.
8) Hawk
ARKANSAS & MISSOURI
RAILROAD - SPRINGDALE, AR, OCTOBER 6, 2008
- Here are a few photos of Arkansas and Missouri Railroad
locomotives and facilities in Springdale, Arkansas October 6, 2008.
Also, since Wal-Mart's worldwide Corporate Headquarters are located in
nearby Bentonville, AR, I drove up there to look at the very first
Wal-Mart store (started by Sam Walton, May 9, 1950). The initial store,
called Walton's 5-10, is now the Wal-Mart museum.
FORMER N&W CABOOSE
JNSX911 NORTH LITTLE ROCK UP YARDS OCTOBER 8, 2008
- N&W Caboose JNSX911 at UP's North Little Rock yards on
October 8,
2008, about 11:45 a.m. It was in line to have some wheels replaced.
Coastline Rail purchased the caboose from a California man through D.
F. Barnhardt & Associates (broker). Jim Satterwhite
sold it
to Specialized Rail Transport. SRT is using Jim's company's
reporting marks "JNSX" (Jim and Nancy Satterwhite) 911 (obvious numbers
lest we forget). It will move to the Cooper T. Smith spur at the Port
of Houston.
PINE BLUFF AND LITTLE ROCK TRAINS
OCTOBER 9, 2008
- Thursday, October 9, 2008. Today I have photos of trains in North
Little Rock, Little Rock and Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Included:
1) UP/SP 2712, 9:11 a.m., Union Station Little Rock
2) Ferromex 4680, 9:34 a.m., UP NLR yards
3) CEFX 101, 9:35 a.m., UP NLR yards
4) UP 8500, 9:45 a.m., Union Station LIT. Train almost hits a large dog.
5) Greenville & Northern Rwy green boxcar HS 72343
6) Coils
7) Small tank car GATX 25179
8) UP 9548, 10:01 a.m. , Union Station LIT
9) UP 4153, Union Station LIT
10) CN 2564, 12:53 p.m. , Pine Bluff, AR
11) Playboy bunny graffiti
12) UP 4051, 1:08 p.m., Pine Bluff
13) UP 4575, 1:22 p.m., Pine Bluff
14) UP 7813 passing other train, Pine Bluff
LITTLE ROCK AND BRINKLEY,
ARKANSAS OCTOBER 10 AND 11, 2008
- Friday, October 10 and Saturday, October 11, 2008 in Little Rock and
Brinkley, Arkansas. This is the Saturday of the week that saw the
biggest fall of the stock market in history, in case someone reads this
in 20 years. BUT the trains continued to run!
Of
interest today is a late Amtrak southbound Texas Eagle, Number 21,
which arrived in Little Rock at 9:19 a.m., about 6 hours late. This
train had hit a trailer full of corn in Illinois the day before, which
delayed it. Nobody was hurt, apparently, but a couple of the passengers
who got off at Little Rock for a smoke break said they could see corn
flying by the windows after the truck was hit (trailer only, they said
the truck cab was off the track). Of course, all this is second hand.
Thanks to Eric Grissom for the 'heads-up' on Amtrak's late arrival.
Also on this web page:
1) UP 7890, with a lot of red containers, 11:35 a.m. October 10
2) UP DPU 8631, 11:42 a.m. on same train.
3)
Following are all October 11. Part of crowd of 49,900 runners and
walkers in the annual Race for the Cure fundraiser to raise money for
breast cancer in downtown Little Rock and North Little Rock.
4) UP 4652, KCS 4034 (Belle unit), 8:49 a.m. at Union Station LIT
5) UP 1917, 9:01 a.m. LIT
6) Amtrak Texas Eagle No. 21, 9:19 a.m.
7) UP 4416 and Amtrak locomotive 12, 9:36 a.m. UP was waiting on Amtrak
to depart.
8) UP 2380, 9:57 a.m.
9) GMTX 2133, sharp blue and white
10) UP 3883 passing UP 2380, 10:00 a.m.
11) Rest are in Brinkley, AR (between Little Rock and Memphis on I-40).
UP 3837 and 9734, 12:53 p.m.
12) CN 8016, 1:23 p.m.
13) UP 4412, 1:39 p.m.
14) UP 4903, 3:31 p.m.
15) UP 4441, 3:45 p.m.
LITTLE ROCK UNION STATION, SUNDAY
OCTOBER 12, 2008 - Of special interest was an
empty 6-truck hauler flatcar (KWUX-18) and a KCS Belle-CSX-led
intermodal. Included today:
1) KWUX-18 hauler
2) UP 2253, 9:08 a.m.
3) KCS 4058-CSX 8115. 9:34 a.m.
4) Canadian Pacific Railway red hi-cube boxcar, CP 220043
5) indusmin hopper.
6) New ACFX hoppers.
7) JNSX911 caboose in UP yard, 11:15 a.m.
8) Kinda colorful work equipment with reds, yellows, blues and greens.
9) UP 5108 plus a Conrail and NS unit, 11:48 a.m.
10) Baring Cross bridge across the Arkansas River from a distance.
BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS, OCTOBER 18,
2008
- Saturday, October 28, 2008 at Brinkley, Arkansas. Rare view of two
CSX trains passing each other, both southbound, one from the north and
one from the east at Brinkley Junction. When I saw two distant
headlights, I crossed the tracks at US Highway 70 and got on
the
sunlit side. The train from the north was going the usual track speed,
about 60 mph, and the one from the east was going about 10 mph because
of the sharp curve. Finally the train from the east got into
view
before the one from the north got there.
Included today:
1) CSX 7373 (from north). CSX 5430 and 597 (from east), 11:51 a.m.
2) NS 8374, 12:18 p.m.
3) UP 4160, NS 8413, 1:33 p.m.
4) CN 5267, UP 2412, 1:57 p.m. with a good wave from the engineer.
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE No. 21 LITTLE
ROCK, OCTOBER 19, 2008
- On Sunday, October 19, 2008, Amtrak's Texas Eagle 21,
southbound, arrived at Little Rock, Arkansas at 12:06 p.m. and left at
12:26 p.m., roughly 9 hours late (due at 3:08 a.m.). Reason for
lateness: Engine failure north of St. Louis (at Carlinville,
IL).
Also, the Amtrak crew ran of out time at Poplar Bluff later and a new
crew from the extra board was driven from Little Rock to Poplar Bluff
to bring the train all the way from Poplar Bluff to Marshall. The crew
that was supposed to get on in Little Rock was driven to Marshall to
bring Amtrak 22 back tonight.
LITTLE ROCI, ARKANSAS, SUNDAY,
OCTOBER 19, 2008 - OTHER PHOTOS - Included today:
1) UP 6662, 851 a.m.
2) BNSF 5664
3) BNSF 7641m 9:27 a.m.
4) Various streamlined autoracks on BNSF auto train
5) Moon, airplanes, Mockingbird, Fall colors, Artsy sunrise shot of
railroad shelter, predawn shots at station
6) UP 2460, 9:54 a.m.
7) UP 9559, 10:08 a.m.
8) UP/SP 2715, 2741, UP 342, 11:41 a.m.
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, SATURDAY,
OCTOBER 25, 2008 - Of special interest was a
GATX chemical emergency Tank Training car. Also included
today:
1)
UP 7141, 10:16 a.m., possibly a detour loaded coal train from Oklahoma
due to a UP derailment at Caney, Oklahoma a couple of days earlier.
This train had LCRX hoppers. Was it heading to the LCRA power plant in
LaGrange, Texas?
2) DPU-UP 5850
3) UP 4289, 10:29 a.m.
4) UP 8427, 11:03 a.m.
5) Louis-Dreyfus hopper
6) UP 4595, 11:15 a.m.
7) UP 9466, freshly painted, 11:28
8) Mad, flying and fighting male Mockingbirds
9) Bright red, green and blue GATX emergency Tank Trainer cars
10) Brand new string of black TILX tank cars
11) UP 4201, 11:50 a.m.
12) UP 1930 on the Amtrak siding
13) Unpatched SP 9755. This car is used on locals around the area.
14) UP 4383, 12:16 p.m.
15) 'Grand Teton' and other Cryo-Trans cars
16) FURX-Transportation Corporation of America hopper.
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, SUNDAY,
OCTOBER 26, 2008
- Just 9 photos today, Sunday October 26, 2008. The shot of the day was
the BNSF trackage rights train headed by Santa Fe Warbonnet 711 and
104. I also tried two artsy-type photo editing shots. There
were
more trains, but I didn't include them. Included today:
1) Union Station construction scene.
2) BNSF 711, 104 (both warbonnets) and 4506, 9:36 a.m.
3) UP 8148 with empty coal train, 10:31 a.m.
4) UP 2452, southbound on the Amtrak siding, 10:56 a.m. with enhanced
sky
5) Large coils on a flatcar.
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, SUNDAY,
NOVEMBER 2, 2008 - Included today:
1) UP 7141 with a CSX and NS unit, 8:04 a.m. cst
2) UP 8047, 9:09 a.m.
3) UP/SP 6312, 9:17 a.m.
4) UP 9247 passing UP 6312, 9:17 a.m.
5) GMTX 2114 - GATX Locomotive Group
6) Red MKT gondola, GT blue hi-cube boxcar
7) SP semi-unpatched 8674, 9:51 a.m. Doesn't have any Southern Pacific
lettering anymore.
8) UP 4840, 10:11 a.m. with 6 units
9) UP 4830, 5007
10) CNW boxcar
11) MKT green hopper
12) SP newly painted hi-cube SP 615221
13) Green BN boxcar
14) Log cars
15) UPY 1370, 10:27 a.m.
16) SP unpatched 9755, used frequently in the local area
17) UP 6665, 11:20 a.m. with empty northbound coal train
18) UP 7712, 12:12 p.m.
19) DPU-UP 3910 and 7911
MISSOURI & NORTH ARKANSAS
BRIDGE-SHIRLEY, ARKANSAS, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2008
- An old Missouri & North Arkansas Railroad bridge remains in
Shirley, Arkansas, as many know. I was photographing fall colors in
northern Arkansas, where Shirley is located, and got some photos of
this bridge, which you can actually drive across. It's very narrow, but
road crews put down a layer of concrete on the bridge, so it's easy to
drive on. The bridge crosses the Little Red River. The
M&NA
was abandoned in this area in the 1940s.
Shirley is
located about 100 miles north of Little Rock in the Ozark Mountains. It
has a population of 337 and is known for growing mushrooms.
These
photos were taken on Thursday, November 6, 2008. A strong cold front
had passed early in the day.
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS NOVEMBER
9-BRINKLEY, AR-NOVEMBER 8, 2008
- Saturday, November 8 at Brinkley, Arkansas and Sunday, November 9,
2008 at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas. Catch of the Day: KCS
belle units 4129 and 4121 together with UP units on a mixed southbound.
Included today:
1) UP 9285 (C40-8), 3874, 9512, 9643, 2459, 6539, 5748, 2402
2) KCS 4129, 4121
3) NS 7555
4) Ashley, Drew & Northern boxcar
5) Arkansas Queen Riverboat under UP Baring Cross bridge.
BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS, NOVEMBER 15,
2008
- Saturday, November 15, 2008 at Brinkley, Arkansas, along the UP. It
was cold and windy today with dark clouds. Temperatures were in the
40s. Included today:
1) UP 5163, 9682, 5689, 9466, 8178, 6455
2) NS 9242
3) CN 'zebra' 5517
4) Long gon train loaded with large coils of some type
5) Dark clouds and sunsets
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, NOVEMBER
16, 2008
- Sunday, November 16, 2008 at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas. Of
special interest today was the various moves of NS 9065 and 9682, first
coming from Biddle Yards on the Amtrak siding, then going north past
the switch, backing up on Main No. 2 to be in front of the station,
then going north again, past the switch between the No. 2 and No. 1
mains, then backing up again, this time on Main No. 1 to hook onto a
freight that was experiencing some engine trouble, and then finally
heading north again with this freight at 12:16 p.m. The whole process
started at 9:47 a.m. It was fun to watch.
Also today:
1) UP 4765, 7252, 4470, 2725, 4036, 9692, 4742, 7861
2) NS 9065, 9682, 9074
3) CSX 5226
4) CN 2547
5) A KRL heavy hauler
6) A special sky photo
7) New station sign at Little Rock's Amtrak station
COLD, BLUSTERY BRINKLEY, AR,
NOVEMBER 22, 2008
- Saturday, November 22, 2008 was a cold, blustery day in Arkansas,
including Brinkley (eastern Arkansas on the Jonesboro and Brinkley subs
of U.P.). The day started out with brilliant, clear blue skies, but it
was a cold 22 degrees (17 degrees below the normal low of 39) and only
reached a high of 43 (26 degrees below the normal high of 69). The wind
was strong too. Fittingly, it was the annual Christmas Open House at
the Brinkley Depot Museum, where I volunteer weekly. There was punch,
cookies, cheese trays, fruit, cinnamon rolls, chips and lots of dip - I
had a good time!!
There were nine trains today passing
through Brinkley, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. I've included most of
them. Included today:
1) NS 9194, 9258
2) CONRAIL 6758
3) UP 4229, 7840, 4303
4) Unknown load
5) Radio Display sign 14-14-16
CLOUDY STATION AT LITTLE ROCK,
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23, 2008
- Sunday, November 23, 2008 at a cloudy and cold Union Station in
Little Rock. Not surprisingly, there were not many railfans
here
today - only 2, including me. All UP today, 5 trains.
TWO STREETCARS LITTLE ROCK
DECEMBER 5, 2008
- Here's a few shots taken of two Little Rock streetcars on Friday,
December 5, 2008 near the Clinton Presidential Library stop. Also shown
are the former Rock Island-Choctaw Route passenger station, now part of
the Clinton Library, and the unused Rock Island bridge over the
Arkansas River. There's also one shot of the Heifer
International
complex, next to the Clinton Library. Heifer International is a
charitable organization that donates animals to many third-world
countries so they can use them on their farms or sell them. Heifer
International's headquarters is a fully 'green' building, lit
mostly by sun roofs and uses water collected and filtered from rainfall.
BRINKLEY,
ARKANSAS, SATURDAY DECEMBER 6, 2008 - Saturday, December 6,
2008 at Brinkley, Arkansas. Included today (I missed two trains):
1) NS 8385
2) UP 3959, 4859
3) CSX 9007, 8538
LITTLE
ROCK, ARKANSAS, SUNDAY DECEMBER 7, 2008
- Sunday, December 7, 2008 (the 67th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor
attack, which was also on a Sunday). Included today are a few UP trains
at Union Station in Little Rock, plus I stopped at Alltel Arena in
North Little Rock to get a couple of pictures of the vehicles used by
the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (the 'Gold' unit,
which travels by truck/RV caravan only). This is Ringling
Brothers' one-ring circus called 'Boom-A-Ring.'
Included today:
1) UP 7739, 4459, 3809, 9136, 5698, 8335
2) Pipe gondola loaded high
3) Two intermodals with DPU's
4) Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey semi's and caravan
BRINKLEY AND LITTLE ROCK,
ARKANSAS, SATURDAY DECEMBER 13, 2008
- Saturday, December 13, 2008 at Brinkley and Little Rock, Arkansas.
Cold and windy today. Included are a couple of night shots at Union
Station in Little Rock and a photo of the Christmas-lighted Arkansas
State Capitol taken from the station.
Included today:
1) CSX 9008
2) UP 4641, 6466, 6455, 4376
3) NS 9545
4) CR 6743
5) BNSF 522 - night photo
(There
were several trains I didn't get to photograph due to visitors at the
museum, plus 4 that I did photograph but decided not to put on this
page due to very dark and poor lighting).
UP 1988, THE KATY HERITAGE
UNIT-JACKSONVILLE/NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR DECEMBER 21, 2008
- UP 1988, the Katy Heritage unit, passing through Jacksonville,
Arkansas and in the North Little Rock UP yards, Sunday December 21,
2008. It was very cold and windy, temperature 22 degrees and north
winds gusting to 30 mph. BUT, it was SUNNY! (finally)
BRINKLEY, AR DEPOT WITH CHRISTMAS
LIGHTS-PLUS TRAINS, DECEMBER 20, 2008
- Saturday, December 20, 2008 was a dark, cold and dismal day
weatherwise in Brinkley, Arkansas. Got a few trains, but it was so dark
that I had to open the lens so much to view the trains, which made them
blurry. It didn't help that they move at track speed past the Brinkley
depot. I stayed after closing the museum until it was dark to get some
night shots of the Christmas lights on the depot.
Temperatures
were in the 40s during the day, but a strong Arctic cold front moved
through that night, dropping temperatures into the lower 20s by dawn on
Sunday, and by Monday morning, they were in the lower teens.
Included today:
1) Christmas lights on the Brinkley Depot.
2) CSX 8456, 8317
3) NS 2583
4) UP 4390
5) 'Candy Cane' crossing gates at night
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE 21 LITTLE ROCK
DECEMBER 22, 2008 PLUS OTHER TRAINS
- Monday, December 22, 2008. Amtrak Texas Eagle Train 21 was 8 hours
late into Little Rock due to winter storm problems in Missouri and
Illinois. Here are a few scenes. I also added some freights today and
on December 21, also at Little Rock.
Included today and yesterday:
1) Amtrak Texas Eagle Train 21 arriving Little Rock about noon.
2) UP/SP 2712
3) UP 8636, 4765, 5984
4) CSX 8103, 4798
5) SSW hi-cube-almost 'clean'
6) String of Railbox boxcars
7) West Central Soy Plus hopper
8) ARMN reefer
CHRISTMAS MIDNIGHT EAGLE, LITTLE
ROCK, DECEMBER 24, 2008
- Christmas Greetings from Little Rock, Arkansas. The Christmas Eve
northbound Texas Eagle (AMT 22) arrived at Union Station 24 minutes
early from Texas on its way to Chicago (arrived at 11:15 p.m.,
scheduled at 11:34 p.m.). Hope everyone has a great holiday season. The
lighted dome to the left of Union Station is the State Capitol building.
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS-DECEMBER
27, 2008
- Saturday, December 27, 2008. Unlike last weekend in Arkansas, it was
unusually warm today with the temperature 70 degrees. Rain and
thunderstorms were moving across Arkansas. Pictures were taken at Union
Station in Little Rock. Included today:
1) UP 4653, 9259, 4128
2) CSX 7645
3) SP 8674
4) ADN boxcar
SUNSET AND TRAINS, DECEMBER 27,
2008
- A squall line moved through Arkansas Saturday afternoon, leaving some
vivid sunsets. I got some photos of the sunset, then went to the train
station in Little Rock to see if I could catch some twilight trains. I
got two. (Ken Z)
TWO UNPATCHED SP UNITS PASSING AT
LITTLE ROCK, DECEMBER 28, 2008
- Unpatched SP 9755 passed unpatched SP 319 at Union Station in Little
Rock, Arkansas December 28, 2008. Another person in our railfan group
got a better and closer picture of these two units passing.
The
9755 is in regular yard service between UP's North Little Rock yards
and Little Rock Biddle (former Rock Island) yards.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
2009
BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS-JANUARY 3, 2009
- Saturday, January 3, 2008 at Brinkley, Arkansas on UP's Jonesboro and
Brinkley Subs. Seven trains today, including:
1) UP 4840, 9432, 4317, 4373, 4403
2) CN 5701, 8012, 2642
3) String of new CEFX hoppers from the plant at Paragould, Arkansas
4) String of CN boxcars including freshly painted CN414375
TWO ASHLEY, DREW &
NORTHERN BOXCARS LITTLE ROCK, JANUARY 4, 2009
- Two Ashley, Drew & Northern boxcars separated by one car
passing
Union Station in Little Rock on Sunday, January 4, 2009. The mixed
train was headed by UP 7011. A cold front had just passed, dropping
temperatures from 55 to 49 in about an hour. Plus I added a couple of
photos of the Trumpeter Swans that winter on Magness Lake near Heber
Springs, in northern Arkansas that I took on New Years Day 2009.
DISPLAYED
UP CENTENNIAL 6938 AT JENKS SHOPS NORTH LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS JANUARY
6, 2009
- Tuesday, January 6, 2009. I went to UP Jenks
Shops in
North Little Rock to visit the UP Company Store (signing in at the
guard shack on the way in) and got a few shots of UP Centennial 6938 on
display there. I also got a UP freight in the Levy section of North
Little Rock on 35th Street on the Van Buren Sub.
(This
was the first time I used my new Acer AspireOne Netbook to download the
photos, shrink them for the web in Paint Shop Pro, create the webpage,
and FTP them to my server. The Netbook is one of those new tiny laptop
computers, which comes with Windows XP-Home, 1GB memory and
144
GB hard drive, plenty for my programs and files. The only thing I have
to get used to is the 9.5" screen and it doesn't have a DVD drive, but
I have a USB DVD drive that works well with it).
JANUARY 7-10, 2009 AROUND LITTLE
ROCK, ARKANSAS - Here are some miscellaneous
photos of trains, streetcars and scenes around Little Rock, Arkansas,
January 7-10, 2009.
Included are:
1) 'Experimental' glider
2) Baring Cross UP bridge with train taken from the Main Street highway
bridge
3) River Rail Streetcar 412 on Main Street Bridge taken from the bridge
4) Little Rock skyline with 12 jet contrails in blue sky
5) Former Missouri Pacific grade on river line, now a biking trail
6) Streetcar as seen from my car while I was parked in the River Market
District of Little Rock
7) UP 2741, 3958, 5029, 7225, 9623
8) LRWN-HLCX 3636, LRWN 7736
9) Rock Island blue hopper
10) Loads of ties
11) Big Blue string of boxcars
12) SP unpatched 319, SP unpatched 9755
13) Model auto next to Union Station dumpster
JANUARY 11, 2009 WITH NEW
PANASONIC-LUMIX X CAMERA WITH 18X ZOOM TRAINS
- Sunday, January11, 2009 at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas. I've
obtained a new Panasonic/Lumix digital camera with 18x optical zoom
(35mm equiv. is 27-486mm) and Leica optics. It was a rather active day,
but nothing like a few months ago. Seen today:
1) UP 1540, 4246, 5000, 2725, 7885, 5280, 4083, 1930, 7050
2) NS 6763
JANUARY
17, 2009 AT BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS
- January 17, 2009 at Brinkley, Arkansas on UP's Jonesboro
Sub. I
saw a work train today that came to Brinkley from West Memphis and did
some switching, plus several other trains. This was the Saturday that
had the famous, annual Yahoo Group Railspot luncheon in Plano, Texas. I
understand 52 or more attended, but I couldn't make it. Included today
at Brinkley:
1) CN 5715
2) UP 4995, 9558, 8558, 4526
3) Snow on black tank cars
10-LOCOMOTIVE TRAIN - OTHERS
LITTLE ROCK JANUARY 18, 2009
- Sunday, January 18, 2009 at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas. A
southbound had 10 locomotives, but this is not unusual since some are
just being transferred. Finally, a crystal clear sky and temperatures
above freezing (in the upper 40s). Included today:
1) UP 5503, 7767, 7897, 7753
2) UP/SP 2741, 2712, 2715
3) MOW work vehicles
4) Lone pigeon
JANUARY 20, 2009 - LITTLE ROCK-
Here's a few photos I took on Presidential Inauguration Day, January
20,
2009, at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas. Several non-UP
power today, including:
1) Unpatched SP 8674
2) BNSF 1058
3) CSX 631, 5422, 4
JANUARY 22-23, 2009 AT LITTLE ROCK
- Here's a couple of days worth of train photos at the station in
Little Rock, Arkansas, Thursday and Friday, January 22 & 23,
2009. Of special interest was a string of new TILX hoppers
and
another of CN boxcars. Also, two trains on the Amtrak siding.
Included:
1) UP 4247, 4995, 4105, 562, 4796, 6034, 6502, 1540, 1539, 3864, 8510,
4215
2) NS 7526.
3) CSX 44, 69
4) BNSF 5950
5) Long string of brand new TILX hoppers
6) Green and blue Golden West Service hoppers
7) String of CN boxcars
8) New Orleans RR emblem on boxcar and a Golden Triangle boxcar
NAPOLEON, AR GHOST TOWN-BOAT RIDE
JAN 26, 2009
- On Monday, January 26, 2009, David Hoge and I of the Arkansas
Railroad Club had a guided boat tour of Napoleon, Arkansas, a pre-Civil
War ghost town in eastern Arkansas at the mouth of the Arkansas River
(where it runs into the Mississippi River). The tour was
given by
Mark McElroy, the County Judge of Desha County, Arkansas. This town
flooded just after the Civil War, partly caused by Union troops when
they cut a hole in a dike. It now lies under the Arkansas River, except
for a 151-foot high hill on Napoleon (or Cat) Island, which has part of
the old Napoleon Cemetery (the rest of this cemetery apparently washed
away in the 1970s). We found one tombstone belonging to Henry Smith,
who died in 1859. His wife was buried there also. Of special interest
regarding this tombstone was the fact that Mr. Smith was born on
January 26, 1817 - meaning we had found it on his birthday!! He'd be
192 years old.
A railroad was chartered to run here, but was never finished.
JANUARY
30, 2009-LRWN AND SUNSET-LITTLE ROCK, AR
- Friday, January 30, 2009 at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Included are some vivid sunset scenes with signals and track, plus a
late afternoon Little Rock & Western train heading TOWARD the
UP
yards in North Little Rock. Photos by Ken Ziegenbein. Included today:
1) UP 9475, 5096, 9673
2) Large load on flatcar TTPX 806273
3) Chessie Cat boxcar
4) LRWN 1542, 7736
5) NS 9366
6) AOK (CNW) hoppers
7) Sunset scenes
FEBRUARY 1, 2009 LITTLE ROCK
- A total of 12 trains and 3 light engine moves today (February 1,
2009) at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas, between 8:30 a.m and
12:53 p.m. Sightings included the Model Railroader 70th Anniversary
WSOR boxcar and 'Famous Ma & Pa RR' boxcar. Included
today:
1) UP 9367, 1539, 7796, 7875, 9431, 5770, 9706, 5310, 5300, 2285, 8344,
1540, 8528, 5106, 4276, 1930, 4757
2) UP/SP 6348
3) SP 9755
4) Columbian Chemical Company hopper
5) Rock Island hopper
6) 'Famous Ma & Pa RR" boxcar
7) Model Railroader 70th Anniversary boxcar, WSOR 503149
8) R J Corman boxcars
9) Old brinks from Dickinson - Little Rock at Union Station driveway
FEBRUARY 2-5, 2009 LITTLE ROCK,
ARKANSAS
- A few photos at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas the week of
February 2-5, 2009. Included is a three-KCS light-engine move.
1) UP 9697, 4357, 9668, 4567
2) KCS 7011, 6618 and 7004.
LATE AMTRAK TEXAS ENGINE No. 22 -
LITTLE ROCK, FEBRUARY 6, 2009
- Friday, February 6, 2009: Amtrak Texas Eagle No. 22, northbound,
arrived at Little Rock, Arkansas about 11 hours late due to engine
problems in Texas and then further delayed by a UP minor derailment and
freight congestion. It was scheduled to arrive before midnight the
night before at 11:26 p.m. (but has been arriving early the past few
weeks), but it arrived today at 10:05 a.m., leaving at 10:28 a.m.
I
just happened to be at the station watching trains, when I noticed no
activity for about 30 minutes and the signals all red. Then I heard the
unmistakable sound of am Amtrak engine around the curve south of the
station (AMT 118), and it pulled into the station, almost 11 hours
late. When it pulled into the Amtrak siding, there was nobody waiting
on the platform, no agent, no crew, like I usually see when Amtrak
comes in (since LRK is a crew change point). But then the people and
agent (Richard) started coming out of the waiting room, and soon they
were on the platform along with dozens of smokers who got off to have
their smoke stop.
I knew that it was delayed in Texas
due to a problem with the locomotive (I believe), but when I last
checked its scheduled arrival in Little Rock last night, it was
supposed to be here at 4 a.m. or thereabouts. So I was surprised to see
it. A conductor told me that they had been delayed again on their way
here by a UP derailment of some sort and because of freight congestion
at some point. Here are some photos (I sat on the ground to look up at
the train departing). (Photos by Ken Ziegenbein)
FEBRUARY 5, 6, 7, 2009 AT LITTLE
ROCK AND BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS
- Here are a few pictures of trains at Little Rock February 6 and
Brinkley, Arkansas February 7, 2009. I included some Central Arkansas
Transit streetcars Thursday evening, February 5 and Saturday evening,
February 7 in the River Market District in Little Rock and a
weird-looking car - a new hybrid? Also, UP 6736, the Operation
Lifesaver unit. Included:
1) Newest of hybrid cars? (LOL)
2) UP 4023, 3781, 7915, 9430, 6736 (Operation Lifesaver unit), 1540,
1539 (real workhorses on the local), 3860
3) CSX 249, 7624
4) HLCX 3813
5) AMT 118
6) UP/SP 6348
7) Two SP boxcars, relatively grafitti-free
8) Central Arkansas Transit Streetcars 408, 412
9) Evening and night scenes in Little Rock's River Market District.
10) The newest of hybrid cars in a parking lot? (LOL - tongue-in-cheek,
but interesting photo)
FEBRUARY
8, 2008 - LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS
- Sunday, February 8, 2009 at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas. Ten
trains today between 9:30 and 1:20 p.m. There was a break in action
when work was done on the Baring Cross bridge between 11:30 and noon.
Included today:
1) BNSF 4643, 729 (Warbonnet), 4983
2) UP 856, 4647, 5039, 5307, 2285, 3963, 5147, 5060, 9458. 5707, 4174
4) Plaque on UP 9458 honoring Talmage Dalebout in 1994 safety award.
5) Painted and patched MP 588719 hopper
6) New CN boxcar CNIS 407347
7) MKT 558 hopper
RAZORBACK MASCOT-TRAINS FEB
10-14, 2009
- Here are lots of train photos from the week of February 10 through
February 14, 2009 at Little Rock PLUS a closeup photo of the official
mascot of the Arkansas Razorbacks, TUSK II, a huge razorback. I got to
pet him. He was in a trailer behind Union Station along with lots of
people, who were doing something at the Arkansas Capitol later that
morning. I might be imagining things, but there seems to be more trains
these days. There were 12 passing Union Station in Little Rock on
Saturday, February 14 alone between 7:22 a.m and 11:45 a.m. While not
as many as past years, it's definitely more than last month. I didn't
go to Brinkley this Saturday but was told they had lots of trains as
well. (KZ)
Included this week:
1) UP North Little Rock yards taken from parking lot of Cracker Barrel
2) Old Camp Robinson tracks in North Little Rock
3) 'TUSK II" large razorback, official mascot of the Arkansas
Razorbacks, University of Arkansas
4) CSX 8054, 4753
5) UP 7865, 5519, 2460, 4111, 4567, 5785, 6578, 5039, 3804, 2426, 4907,
5201, 4386, 5297, 8059, 7874, 7788
6) BNSF 7596, 4399, 4051, 4891
7) GMTX blue-white 2156, 2153
8) Green/blue containers
9) Long flatcar load
10) D&RGW dump car 3901
11) CNW dump car
12) BN green boxcar
13) CN blue boxcar
14) Rock Island worn blue boxcar
15) YKR 925 blue boxcar
16) BN green autorack by itself
17) White, round tank or container car
18) Re-painted MoPac hoppers with buzzsaw
19) BNSF and BN coil cars
20) Long string of Herzog hoppers
21) Yellow CNW hopper "Employee Owned"
22) Rice & Popcorn hopper
23) Blue tank car
24) Alberta blue hopper
25) New NS hi-cube boxcar
26) New CSX containers "How Tomorrow Moves"
27) Unknown type of bird.
AIRHOSE BREAK-BNSF AND OTHER
TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, FEBRUARY 15, 2009
- Sunday, February 15, 2009 at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas. It
was another busy day with 15 trains between 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Due
to an empty coal train waiting on a crew, both main tracks were blocked
for over an hour and a half. As a result, 5 trains (including
a
BNSF train) had to use the Amtrak siding to get around the coal train.
Made for some interesting closeup shots. Then, as the coal train
finally got a crew and headed north on the Van Buren Sub, the very next
train on that line broke an air hose in front of Union Station and went
into emergency (we saw the air hose break right in front of us - one of
our group called the UP 800 number and reported the exact milepost and
car ID that had the break, which might have saved the crew a little
time. Shortly after the call by Bruce, a UP policeman showed up and a
front-end crew member arrived at the site with stuff to fix the break).
There are photos of this below.
Also included today:
1) UP 3841, 5651, 7131, 1540, 4697, 3824, 4845, 1423, 7830, 7794, 4858,
2285, 4245, 0786, 7923
2) BNSF 4362, 7600
3) Very old Santa Fe boxcar
4) Broken airhose puts train in emergency
FEBRUARY 18, 2009-LITTLE ROCK
- Wednesday, February 18, 2009 at Little Rock plus two photos of an
unusual line of cumulus clouds. Included today:
1) UP 9625, 9746, 7736
2) BNSF 9640 (in the dull green, white and gold stripes)
3) MKT red gondolas 16014 and 16107
4) String of empty 'tables'/flats
5) Line of fair-weather cumulus clouds with the rest of the sky clear.
BNSH
901-FEBRUARY 20, 2009 - LITTLE ROCK - Faded
BNSF-Santa Fe Warbonnet 901 in a colorful 3-locomotive consist passing
Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas, Friday, February 20, 2009.
Number 901 was the second unit between BNSF 7562 and UP 3831 on a mixed
train. There was a Vermont Rail boxcar on the freight. Also a couple of
closeup bird shots, I think of a Mockingbird. Also today:
1) Chessie cat emblem on boxcar
2) Vermont Rail yellow boxcar
UP 4141-LRWN 102-BRINKLEY AND
NORTH LITTLE ROCK-FEBRUARY 21, 2009
- Saturday, February 21, 2009 at Brinkley, Arkansas and North Little
Rock. The day started out cold and rainy, but sunshine broke through
late in the day. There were no trains at Brinkley from 9 a.m. until
2:08 p.m. then there were four trains between 2:08 p.m. and 3:04 p.m.
Best catch at Brinkley was bright red Canadian Pacific 8549. Two good
catches at North Little Rock's UP yards were LRWN Alco 102, now
lettered VLIX and UP 4141, the Bush unit, which spent the past week at
Jenks Shops, apparently being retouched with paint. Also, a colorful
sunrise and a woodpecker.
Included today:
1) UP 3963, 4495, 4702, 4925, 4141
2) Canadian Pacific 8549
3) Four CSX blue boxcars in a row
4) Rock Island hopper at end of train
5) Woodpecker at Dagmar Wildlife Refuge
FEBRUARY 22, 2009 - LITTLE ROCK
- Faded BNSF-Santa Fe Warbonnet 901 in a colorful 3-locomotive consist
passing Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas, Friday, February 20,
2009. Number 901 was the second unit between BNSF 7562 and UP 3831 on a
mixed train. There was a Vermont Rail boxcar on the freight. Also a
couple of closeup bird shots, I think of a Mockingbird. Also today:
1) Chessie cat emblem on boxcar
2) Vermont Rail yellow boxcar
FEBRUARY 25, 2009 - LITTLE ROCK
- 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
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
WSOR BLACK-YELLOW BOXCAR-FORMER
SARGENTO CHEESE CAR
- February 25, 2009. WSOR 503194, Wisconsin & Southern colorful
yellow and black boxcar at Little Rock, February 26, 2009. It looked
brand new. This was formerly painted for Sargento's Cheese for a
Christmas train in Wisconsin.
HEAVY-HAULER KRL
45833-OTHERS-LITTLE ROCK, AR FEBRUARY 26, 2009
- Friday, February 27, 2009 at Little Rock, Arkansas. It was a warm,
then cool day, with clouds, sun and rain. Lots of trains today, but I
just included the 'best of.' Of special interest was a
one-car
train hauling a large transformer and a Kansas City Southern 'Belle'
unit. Included today:
1) CSX 643
2) Heavy-haul flat KRL 45833
3) UP4097, 8407
4) CN 5707, 2699
5) SSW/UP 2094
6) KCS Belle 4696
UNPATCHED COTTON BELT LOCO-RED CP
LOCO-FEBRUARY 28, 2009
- Saturday, February 28, 2009 at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Here's red Canadian Pacific 8549 leading the local to Pine Bluff around
noon. In the locomotive consist was unpatched Cotton Belt (SSW) 9642.
UP 1983-WESTERN PACIFIC
HERITAGE-LITTLE ROCK MARCH 6, 2009
- UP Heritage locomotive 1983, the Western Pacific unit, made a rare
appearance in Arkansas on Friday, March 6, 2009. Here are three shots
of it passing Union Station in Little Rock at 1:19 p.m. I wanted to get
the station in the shot, so I went on the hill across the tracks, but
that made the photography tricky due to the severe
back-lighting.
However, it I think it turned out ok (after all, I gat the perfect
lighting shot of this unit in Salt Lake City in 2007).
A
series of events delayed the train for over an hour just south of the
station: the Baring Cross bridge liftspan was raised for a water craft
and UP MOW was doing some work and testing on the switch between Main 1
and Main 2 just south of the bridge. So, it took the train
over
an hour to move from Mabelvale (in southwest Little Rock), where it
passed One Track Mind Hobby Shop at 11:57 a.m., to Union Station, where
it arrived at 1:19 p.m. My mind was quite active during this waiting
period with thoughts such as this: *^#@(*^^%*!@%.
MARCH 6,
2009 - LITTLE ROCK - Friday, March 6, 2009 at the station at
Little Rock, Arkansas and across the tracks on the hill. Included today:
1) IC, SP, CSX, CN Hi-Cube boxcars
2) CNW/UP Operation Lifesaver 6737
3) UP 4266, 7921, 9583, 9680, 2460, 2426, 4339, 5120
4) Long rail-train
5) 'The Rock' gondola repainted another color but you can still see the
"R"
6) Large cable storage rolls with the cable
7) HLCX 3801
8) GATX 2152
9) CSX 5417
MARCH 14, 2009 - LITTLE ROCK,
BRINKLEY, AR -
Saturday, March 14, 2009 at Little Rock and Brinkley, Arkansas. Not
many trains today. It was another cold, drizzly day with temperatures
in the lower 40s, about 20 degrees below normal for mid-March. Included
today:
1) UP 1930, 8639, 4421, 4899, 4144, 3787, 3823
2) MKT green gondola 16519
3) Columbus & Greenville boxcar HS 30944
4) Illinois Central boxcar
5) New Orleans Public Belt Railroad boxcar
6) Closeup of singing Mockingbird at home
LITTLE ROCK MARATHON AND TRAINS,
MARCH 15, 2009
- 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.
UP 1995 LEADING ENGINEERING
SPECIAL-HEARNE, TEXAS MARCH 19, 2009
- Union Pacific Engineering special train crossing 6th
Street in Hearne, Texas on Thursday, March 19, 2009. This train had
originated in Council Bluffs, Iowa on March 16. I've also included a
sound Quicktime movie of it. I was afraid I'd miss it since I
didn't get to photograph it at one of my usual places, Brinkley,
Arkansas the day before, because of a trip to visit my father
in
Texas who had hip surgery in Bryan. Then, I read that the train would
be coming through Hearne on the 19th, so I drove the 18 miles to catch
it. I guess you could say the train actually followed me!
TIE GANG, OTHER TRAINS LITTLE
ROCK AND BRINKLEY, AR MARCH 28, 2009
- Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28, 2009 at Little Rock and
Brinkley, Arkansas. I used another digital camera to take a couple of
sound movies along with my regular still photo camera - I put the
camera taking the movie on a tripod and turned it on as the trains
passed then took the stills at the same time. This time I uploaded the
movies to YouTube since my .MOV files are so huge - now you don't have
to download the movie, just play them on YouTube. Let me know
what you think.
It was unusually cold on March 28 at
Brinkley, 44 degrees with north winds gusting to 40 mph.
Usual
temperatures this time of year are in the lower 70s.
Included today:
1) UP 9656, 9644, 3863
2) UP tie gang Brinkley, AR
3) CSX 8755
4) NS 9703
LOADED LITTLE ROCK STREETCARS
MARCH 29, 2009
- On Sunday afternoon, March 29, 2009, I was driving to Union Station
to get photos of trains when I saw Central Arkansas Transit's Streetcar
411 at the 7th and Main stop in North Little Rock, AR with tons of
people getting on. There was a bus that brought them there to ride the
streetcar to the Clinton Presidential Library. I then
followed
the streetcar to the library and got the following photos.
TWO BNSF-ONE UP TRAIN LITTLE
ROCK, MARCH 29, 2009
- Sunday afternoon, March 29, 2009 at Union Station in Little Rock. A
quiet afternoon, but I caught 3 trains, including 2 BNSF
trains.
It was sunny, but by 4 p.m. the sun was parallel to the tracks, so
shadows were on both sides of the trains.
Included today:
1) BNSF 7560, 1002, 7458
2) CN 5638
3) UP 6900, 6039
4) Red Canadian Pacific Railway boxcars.
5) CSX/NYC boxcar 243115.
MARCH 31, 2009 HEARNE, TEXAS AND
LITTLE ROCK, AR
- Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at Little Rock, Arkansas and a
question
about an old passenger coach in Hearne, Texas. Included today:
1) Old passenger coach in Hearne, Texas
2) UP 6003, 5790, 7827, 7779, 4241, 4731, 5267
3) LRWN 1544, 1542
4) BNSF 8544, 5267
5) MKT red gondola
6) MoPac Buzzsaw gondola
7) Field of bluebonnets in Texas
BNSF GRAIN TRAIN SOUTH OF
SOMERVILLE TX, APRIL 2, 2009
- A BNSF unit grain train crossed County Road 1948 south of Somerville,
Texas on Thursday, April 2, 2009 at 10:15 a.m. This day was a
very sad day to me since my father died later that afternoon in
Bellville, Texas at the age of 90. I decided to put these
photos
online as therapy and relaxation after a long and stressful day.
Included today:
BNSF 4110, 5175, 7221, and DPU Warbonnet 960.
PRE-WEDDING PHOTO OP AND TRAINS
LITTLE ROCK, AR-APRIL 11, 2009
- Here's a few trains today passing Union Station in Little Rock,
Arkansas. There was a couple there getting pictures made of themselves
before their wedding, using a professional photographer. I asked them
if they liked trains or were just there for a different type of
pre-wedding picture, and they said they like trains. I then told them
that they'd have a long and happy marriage - after all, couples who
watch trains together stay together, right??
Included today:
1) NS 9762, new or newly painted
2) UP 8101, 7394 (new or newly painted)
STORMY EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 12,
2009, LITTLE ROCK
- Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009 at a dark and stormy Union Station in
Little Rock, Arkansas. I only stayed for one train because it started
to rain buckets and I was in my dress suit, heading for Easter
services. Included: UP 2482.
BNSF 555, 12-AXLE FLAT CAR,
LITTLE ROCK, APRIL 14, 2009
-Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas. The
BNSF local with BNSF warbonnet 555 in the lead, was on the Little Rock
& Western tracks, waiting to enter UP's North Little Rock
yards. I
also caught KCS Belle 4692 in a 10-unit consist heading south and a
12-axle heavy haul flatcar. It was a sunny, coolish day. Included today:
1) BNSF Warbonnet 555
2) UP 8583, 2460, 1539, 4786
3) KCS Belle 4692
4) UP/SP 2020
5) Mississippi Export Railroad boxcar EEC 2712
6) QTTX 131117 12-axle heavy hauler (using 4 sets of 3-axle trucks)
INTERSTATE 40 TRAFFIC DETOURED
OVER UP TRACKS AT BRINKLEY, AR, APRIL 18, 2009
- On Saturday, April 18, 2009, Interstate 40 near Brinkley, Arkansas
was closed in both directions due to multiple accidents, funneling all
that interstate traffic onto US 70, which crosses the Union Pacific’s
Jonesboro Sub at MP 199 in Brinkley. (This sub runs from St Louis to
Jonesboro, Pine Bluff. Texarkana AR and handles UP’s southbound
freights). I-40 is a major east-west interstate, running from
Wilmington, North Carolina to Barstow, California, 2,559 miles.
The
Brinkley Depot Museum, where I volunteer, sits near this crossing and I
could see the thousands of semi’s and cars slowly going across the
tracks. I called UP’s 800 number and told them that this crossing may
at times be blocked, and apparently the state police also called UP. UP
normally runs southbound trains through here at track speed (58 mph),
but they got the message and had a slow order for all trains going over
this crossing (I’d estimate 10-15 mph). The engineers really blew their
horns constantly and the day went by without any crossing accidents,
although I could see some truck trailers stopped on the crossing at
times due to the heavy traffic. The trains sped up right after the head
end crossed the highway and were going track speed again before the end
of the train reached the crossing.
So, I’d imagine this
was by far the busiest highway-railroad crossing on the UP this day.
The detoured interstate traffic started about 4 a.m. and lasted until 3
p.m. that afternoon. I’m sure the city streets in Brinkley got a
workout as well.
From news sources on the causes of the I-40 closure:
"Police
say several people are dead and many injured in three separate crashes
along I-40 this Saturday. Bill Sadler with the Arkansas State Police
tells KARK the accidents happened early Saturday morning on I-40
between Brinkley and Wheatley. The first accident happened around 3
a.m. when a car driven by 52-year-old Albert Barnes of
Brinkley....crashed into the back of a big rig. Barnes died
at
the scene..
The next -- at around 5 a.m. In that
crash -- two were killed after an explosion caused by the
accident. Two people were also sent to the hospital on that
scene. And the third -- at around 7:30 a.m. Thankfully, no injuries or
death happened then. So the reason for the
accidents? Police
believe construction on the interstate -- could be a factor.
Also, traffic backed up from the first accident could be a contributing
factor to the second accident."
I heard that they were
working on a bridge at the time. Both east and westbound lanes of I-40
were closed most of the morning, due to the debris and cleanup, but the
eastbound lane opened by noon. The westbound lane opened by 3 p.m. - KZ
UP ENGINEERING SPECIAL LITTLE
ROCK, APRIL 21, 2009
- A Union Pacific engineering special passing Union Station in Little
Rock, Arkansas on its way to Monroe, Louisiana, Tuesday, April 21, 2009
at 2:02 p.m.
RED FLAG INSPECTION-LITTLE ROCK,
APRIL23, 2009
- Thursday, April 23, 2009 at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas.
There was a 'red flag' inspection team at the station today, which
stopped several trains for inspections. This exercise measures how long
it takes a train to stop when confronted with an unexpected red flag.
Although I don't know the details, I think all crews passed today. I
also caught an over-active Mockingbird near trackside.
Included today:
1) UP 5095, 2420
2) UPY 640, clean and shiny
3) Scale car
4) White, new small tankcar
5) Red Flag inspections, tests
6) Active Mockingbird
UP ENGINEERING SPECIAL
AGAIN-LITTLE ROCK, APRIL 26, 2009
- Union Pacific 5490 lead a UP Engineering special past Union
Station in Little Rock, AR on Sunday, April 26, 2009 at 10:50 a.m.
Included is a link to my Youtube video of this train, taken with a
separate camera on a tripod. Listen for the 'horn music' as UP 5490
passes. Also included today:
1) UP 5490
2) CSX 7689
3) NS 9286
4) CN 2630
5) Bright-eyed rabbit and a bird
STORMS-WET GROUNDHOG-TRAINS-APR
24, MAY 1, 2 AND 3, 2009
- Here's a few photos of trains in Brinkley and Little Rock, Arkansas
on April 24, May 1, May 2 and May 3, 2009 - I only posted the better
shots. Some of these shots were taken in downpouring rain. It was so
dark and rainy at Brinkley that the town's streetlights came on around
noon on Saturday, May 2. Rainfall amounts the past 4 days in the state
ranged from 2 to 9 inches and I've included a screenshot of a storm
total precipitation radar map from the Little Rock NWS .Also included
are photos of a wet, baby groundhog, cardinals, and a mockingbird.
Included on this page:
1) UP 4656, 5014, 8386, 4745
2) LRWN 1544
3) UP Rail Inspection Vehicle DC-31
4) CSX 7890
5) Two cardinals, a mockingbird and a wet baby groundhog.
DISNEY RADIO-NATIONAL TRAIN
DAY-UNION STATION LITTLE ROCK MAY 9, 2009
- Saturday, May 9, 2009 - National Train Day - at the station in Little
Rock, Arkansas. Helping celebrate were people from Radio Disney, who
put up a booth in front of the Amtrak station and had live broadcasts
on the local Radio Disney station (99.5 FM) and also had music from
Radio Disney's XM Satellite Radio channel. You could register for a
round trip on Amtrak's Texas Eagle to Chicago. They were also
here last year on Train Day. Of course, since they were here from
9-noon, the Amtrak office was closed, but they knew that ahead of time.
They told me that Amtrak pays Disney to come to their stations for
events, something I didn't know.
Included today:
1)Blackberries
2) Radio Disney people and display for National Train Day
3) UP 5230, 5492
4) Pigeon of the day
CLASSIC ROCK ISLAND AD PLUS
STREETCAR LITTLE ROCK, AR MAY 12, 2009
- Three trains today(Tuesday, May 12,2009) at Union Station
in
Little Rock plus a picture of Streetcar 410 at dusk with a
billboard-sized 'Route of the Rockets' Rock Island sign above the new
addition to the Little Rock Public Library (Central Arkansas Library
System). Also, I caught the Mammoet-MAMX-42002 caboose in mid-train, a
Chessie hi-cube and Ashley, Drew & Northern boxcar HS HS30631.
Included today:
1) UP 7114, 2482, 8380
UP 1996 (SP) AND 1982 (MOPAC)
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, MAY 13, 2009
- Wednesday, May 13, 2009 and Thursday, May 14, 2009 at Little Rock,
Arkansas. Most interesting are some night shots of BNSF-Santa Fe 160
(in Warbonnet scheme) as it was moving cars to Pulaski in west Little
Rock (on former Rock Island, now Little Rock & Western tracks)
and
UP heritage units 1996 (Southern Pacific) and 1982 (Missouri Pacific)
in the UP yards. Rumors have it that these two heritage units will be
used on Operation Lifesaver trains in Arkansas the week of May 26-29
(Piggot-Marmaduke May 26, Paragould May 27, Jonesboro May 28, Pine
Bluff May 29). I have nothing official on this yet.
Interesting
sideline Wednesday night at Union Station: When I got there about 5
p.m., Little Rock & Western was just starting to go to the UP
yards
from it's tracks across from Union Station. Later, the BNSF local
headed by SF 160 came in from Pine Bluff, crossed the Arkansas River,
then backed its cars to Pulaski Siding in West Little Rock. We heard on
the radio that a minor derailment in UP's yards awhile earlier had
blocked one of the access tracks, so some trains were becoming backed
up on the UP west of Little Rock, including the one with UP 1996 and
1982 (the train they were on, MFWNL, got to Little Rock Junction at
7:35 p.m. and didn't get to leave for the yards until almost 3 the next
morning, sitting there about 7 hours. Little Rock Junction is just
around the corner from Union Station.
Anyway, there
were no UP trains passing the station for a while. We then heard that
the Little Rock & Western train was ready to return from the
yards
to head back west to Perry, Arkansas. As they were preparing to leave
the yards, the BNSF local called and was ready to return to UP's main-1
line, having done their switching at Pulaski. Since the BNSF
local was on the Little Rock & Western's single-line track, the
LRWN train could not immediately come out of the yard. The dispatcher
did some quick and smart thinking, stopping the LRWN train, then
allowing the BNSF train to get onto UP's Line 1, cross the Baring Cross
bridge, then backing up and crossing over from UP Main 1 to UP Main 2
at that busy switch at Union Station, backing all the way to milepost
347, which is at the west side of the station, stopping there while the
LRWN train came off UP Line-1 onto their own tracks (where the BNSF
train just exited) . Then the BNSF local heading forward again (north)
and went on to Memphis. All in all, it was a rather interesting night
of train watching, dispatching, switching, and all with non-UP power.
This all occurred between 5 and 10 p.m.
Included today:
1) UP 1996, 1982, 8555,
2) BNSF 160, 4010, 4188
UP 1996-1982 BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS,
MAY 18, 2009
- UP Heritage locomotives 1996 (SP) and 1982 (MoPac) headed a mixed
freight northbound through Brinkley, Arkansas on Monday, May 18, 2009
at 10:40 a.m. They were on their way to Jonesboro and I heard that the
two units will be used on Operation Lifesaver trains in northeast
Arkansas May 26-29 (Piggot-Marmaduke May 26, Paragould May
27,
Jonesboro May 28, Pine Bluff May 29). However, it's also rumored that
the 1996 may be in Parsons, Kansas that same weekend. Also included is
a UP UPS expedited container train headed by UP 4433. Many thanks for
the anonymous tip on this train's status. I knew it was in Pine Bluff
and would eventually be going to Jonesboro, but I had no idea which day
until I got the special email.
UP 1982-1996-CP RED 8811-POWER
LOCO MOVE, LITTLE ROCK, MAY 20, 2009
- Interesting day at the train station in Little Rock, Arkansas,
Wednesday, May 20, 2009. First was a long engine power move that
arrived at 11:53 a.m. from Long Beach, California (the ELBNL-17), then
about 20 minutes later the Pine Bluff local (YNL75) passed the station
with UP Heritage 1982 (MoPac) in the lead, followed by UP Heritage 1996
(SP) and bright red Canadian Pacific 8811. A very colorful train.
Included today:
1) A long stack train
2) UP 4383, 8077, 4569, 4542, 4213, 4130, 4119, 4143, 4061, 4586, 4062,
4154, 4288, 4293, 4220, 4266, 8397, 1982, 1996
3) CP 8811
4) Ashley, Drew & Northern boxcar HS 30552
5) My Mockingbird bird-ham posing for my other camera
BELLVILLE, TEXAS MAY 27, 2009
- Bellville, Texas at the site of the late Bellville depot, May 27,
2009. Here are a few shots of the grounds and one BNSF loaded coal
train.
FLATONIA, TEXAS MAY 30-31, 2009
- Flatonia, Texas at the famous Photo Pavilion and elsewhere on both
Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31, 2009. Tommy Schultz met me there
on Sunday. Trains included for both days include:
1) KCS 4105 (Belle), 4606, 4548, 4604
2) UP 9769, 8401, 4769, 4131
3) Two trains with solid black Belle hoppers
4) Tommy S
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS, JUNE 5,
2009
- A sunny June 5, 2009 at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas. Two
trains today, including a Youtube digital movie of the YNL75 (Pine
Bluff local) with two KCS Belle units in the consist.
Included
today:
1) UP 6173
2) KCS Bells 4101, 4110
3) Ashley, Drew & Northern boxcar
UP 4141-GEORGE BUSH UNIT-LITTLE
ROCK JUNE 6, 2009
- UP 4141, the Bush unit, was still sittiing in front of UP's Jenk's
Shops in North Little Rock, AR on Saturday, June 6, 2009. There have
been reports that this unit was in Illinois, but unless UP reassigned
the number 4141 to another locomotive, that report is false.
BRINKLEY
AND LITTLE ROCK, ARKANAS JUNE 7, 2009
- A couple of pictures of trains in Brinkley, Arknasas June 6 and more
trains the next day at Union Station in Little Rock. Included:
BRINKLEY - 2 Trains:
1) UP 5088
2) NS 9973
LITTLE ROCK - 10 Trains:
1) UP 5960, 5026, 4032, 2426, 1540, 3851, 7911, 7884, 1930
2) CSX 5432
3) GMTX-GATX 2156
4) CP RED 8811
5) BNSF 6618
6) Long string of 'streamlined' AOK and BNSF autoracks on BNSF trackage
rights train
7) Rock Island boxcar
BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS JUNE 13, 2009
- Saturday, June 13, 2009 at Brinkley, Arkansas. Lots of CSX
locomotives today. Included:
1) CSX 5493, 5207, 7373, 7725, 7629, 8132
2) IC 1037
3) CN 5--- (couldn't read all the numbers)
4) UP 5310, 9753, 3939, 3964, 9359
5) Loads of pipe
6) Fat cat
WINDMILL TRAIN, LITTLE ROCK, AR
JUNE 21, 2009
- A long windmill train passed Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas
on Sunday, June 21, 2009 heading north and west toward Fort Smith and
Kansas City. I also got some shots of this train off the Main Street
bridge overpass.
BIRDS, RABBITS, WEED STALKS AND
TRAINS - LITTLE ROCK, BRINKLEY AND JACKSONVILLE AR, JUNE 22-JULY 1, 2009
- Various trains, birds, weed stalks and rabbits at Little Rock,
Jacksonville and Brinkley, Arkansas in June and July, 2009. Included
are:
1) Artsy photo of a tall weed at the Amtrak platform in Little Rock.
2) Baby Killdeer and its mother at Brinkley, AR
3) Baby rabbit at Little Rock
4) Old Rock Island roadbed at Brinkley
5) Workers working to enclose part of Union Station's balcony
6) Unpatched UP 192
7) UP 1539, 7708, 9671, 6598, 7693
JULY 6, 2009 - LITTLE ROCK, AR
- Monday, July 6, 2009 at Union Station in Little Rock, AR. Included
today:
1) BNSF 4897, 4521
2) UP 7227
3) Old UP boxcar
4) NDYX 823132gondola - who was the original owner of this?
5) New Procor shiny green tankcar
JULY 7, 2009 - LITTLE ROCK, AR
- Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas. I
happened to be there when a large group of children hosted by some
Diocese walked by the station. They were on an educational walk through
places where the homeless sometimes are present so the children could
see how homeless live. The lady I talked to said they were walking near
railroads as well as downtown areas so the children could see what kind
of life the less fortunate live. She said the group
was
from all across Arkansas.
Also included today was my
favorite Santa Fe Warbonnet, No.160, on the BNSF local at the station.
While it was there, two UP trains passed it minutes apart.
Included today:
1) Santa Fe 160
2) UP 5072, 7402, 9314
3) EEC new red boxcar
4) Children on a mission
JULY 9, 2009 - LITTLE ROCK
- Thursday, July 9, 2009 at the station in Little Rock. Of special
interest today is EJ&E (The J) locomotive 669. I've also
included a
shot of UP 4141, the George Bush unit, still sitting at Jenks Shops in
North Little Rock, plus the displayed Centennial 6938, also at Jenks,
and the "In Loving Memory of Grandpa Pete - This One's For You -
1928-2004" western art grafitted hopper (UTCX48828). Others included:
1) UP 8534, 2460, 9677, 6938 Centennial (on display), Bush 4141 (stored
at Jenks)
2)
Good western-art graffiti on hopper UTCX 48828 with the words: "In
Loving Memory of Grandpa Pete - This One's For You - 1928-2004"
3) Gondola ALGX 400007, with 'V'-shaped ends
4) EJ&E 669, 'The J'
JULY 12, 2009 - LITTLE ROCK, AR
- Sunday, July 12, 2009 at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Included today:
1) UP 8567, 1540, 1539, 9605, 2420, 9356, 6774
2) UP/SP 6330, 6222
3) String of baretables
JULY 18, 2009 - BRINKLEY, AR
- Saturday, July 18, 2009 at Brinkley, Arkansas on UP's Jonesboro and
Brinkley Subs in eastern Arkansas. Nice, sunny and cool day (record low
of 61 this morning at Little Rock). Seven trains today between noon and
4 p.m., including:
1) UP 4042, 5518, 4719, 2001 (in North Little Rock)
2) NS 2689, 9399
3) CSX 8364, 7753
4) Little Rock streetcar 411
JULY 19, 2009 - LITTLE ROCK
- I caught just a couple of trains at the station in Little Rock today,
Sunday July 19, 2009. I played around with Paint Shop Pro X2 on a
couple of photos, making one look like one of the first color glass
photos taken in 1904. Included today:
1) UP 8343, 7415, 9371, 2420
TRAINS AND RAIN, JULY 21, 2009
LITTLE ROCK
- Tuesday, July 21, 2009 was a rainy and thundery day in Little Rock,
Arkansas. I thought I'd get some train pictures in the rain, and here
they are. There was a flash flood warning out and lots of thunder along
with the heavy rain. Included today:
1) MKT green short covered hopper, HLMX 4186
2) BNSF 555 (warbonnet), 122 (warbonnet)
3) UP 4791, 7821, 8329
4) Lots of heavy rain
UP 1988-OTHERS LITTLE ROCK, JULY
26, 2009
- UP Heritage 1988, two unpatched SP locomotives, one SW-1500 former SP
locomotive, two KCS units, and other trains today at Union Station in
Little Rock. It seemed like old times with the frequent trains.
Included:
1) KCS 4001, 3951
2) UP 9421, 9381, 1539, 7729, 1988, 5976, 4141
3) SP/UP 1176, SW-1500
4) SP 9755 running light, SP 177 - both unpatched
5) Blue patched UP hopper
6) WMAX new black hopper 4526
UP 4141, GEORGE BUSH LIBRARY
UNIT, JENKS SHOPS NORTH LITTLE ROCK WITH OUR RAILROAD GROUP JULY 25,2009
- Photo taken by John C. Jones of UP 4141, the George Bush 41 unit,
which has been on display at UP's Jenks shops in North Little Rock,
Arkansas since March 27, 2009 (regardless of what the UP trace has been
saying - it's still here). This a a group of Arkansas Railroad Club
members who got a tour of Jenks Shops on July 25. We posed in front of
the 4141 after the tour. The unit is safely displayed in a fenced area
to prevent graffiti and vandalism with a 24-hour UP guard shack a
hundred feet away. It even has yellow tape on the steps to keep people
from going inside. I've heard both that it's ready to run and only
being held here until traffic picks up or that it has some mechanical
problems and won't be fixed until needed for service.
OLD LOCOMOTIVES, 6 GREEN KATY
GONS NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR, JULY 28. 2009 - A
rainy Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at North Little Rock. Interesting stuff in
the yard. Inluded:
1) UPY 1115, former SP "Roseville"switcher
2) SP 7359, rusted locomotive
3) Blue GMTX 104
4) SIX MKT green hoppers on one train: 587, 530, 596, 576, 593, 586
HONEYDEW MELON AT AMTRAK STATION
LITTLE ROCK, AR JULY 30, 2009
- With all the rain we've had here in Arkansas (now 13.00 inches above
normal as of July 31, 2009 in Little Rock - the wettest July in 118
years), this honeydew melon plant has taken root through the ballast
next to the Amtrak siding at Union Station in Little Rock, AR. There
are two melons on this vine. I had originally thought these were small
watermelons, but after several people pointed out that the leaves were
not right for watermelons, I picked one on July 31, the day after I
took these photos, just to see for sure. I cut it open and it's a
honeydew melon. (photos at end of this page). It was very heavy and
very moist. I tasted a small piece and it tasted just like a sweet
honeydew - no signs of diesel or oil or bitterness.
So much for the horticultural lessons!! After all,
I do my 'gardening' at Kroger :-)
VARIOUS TRAINS LITTLE ROCK,
AUGUST 2, 2009
- Sunday, August 2, 2009 at Little Rock, Arkansas. There were 13 trains
today between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., including the following:
1) UP 4953, 1917, 4147, 7895, 4833, 9735, 9793, 1439, Y1477, 5038,
7362, 4213, 4734, 5094, 8159, 2482
2) GMTX 2156
3) NS 2522
4) CSX 7589
5) Old UP fallen-flag hi-cube with map
6) String of 5 yellow TTX boxcars
7) String of 4 GT blue boxcars
8) Rock Island blue hopper
9) Green GSSX hopper 5205
10) CP 546209 autorack
11) Old TRLX hopper 78135
12) D&RGW hopper 15587
13) Old Southern hopper 109955
BRINKLEY AND LITTLE ROCK, AUGUST
8, 2009
- Saturday, August 8, 2009 at Little Rock (brief and early) and
Brinkley, AR. Catch of the day was KCS Belle 4709 passing the Brinkley
depot. There were 8 trains today at Brinkley. Included:
1) UP 9794, 4231, 6468, 7306, 5214, 6641, 6812, 9485
2) NS 9905, 8458 ,9361, 9547
3) KCS Belle 4709
4) Illinois Central hi-cube
5) CSX hi-cube
LITTLE ROCK, AUGUST 9, 2009
-Best of my train photos on Sunday, August 9, 2009 at Little
Rock. Included today:
1) SOO 125137, Pillsbury blue hopper, severely rusted
2) Dead Honeydew vine at the Amtrak siding, parent of the famous
honeydew that I picked last week
3) Long, empty flat/baretable train
4) String of truck fames
5) Old MoPac woodchip cars
6) GACX 2632, The Great Train Story hopper
7) UP 5189, 3893, 9438, 2463
8) LLPX 2229
9) KCS 4709, the same unit I saw in Brinkley the day before
LITTLE ROCK, AUGUST 14, 2009
- Empty GLFX coal train, northbound and other trains, August 14 and
August 12, 2009 at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas. Included:
1) UP 6450
2) GLFX coal hoppers
3) Dried, famous honeydew melon
4) GMTX 2157
5) Bright red MoPac work caboose 13064
LITTLE ROCK, AUGUST 15, 2009
- Saturday, August 15, 2009 at Little Rock, Arkansas. Included today:
1) BNSF 5230
2) UP 8400, 5250, 4496, 9658
3) NS 2710
4) Red Canadian Pacific gondola
5) Long streamlined train of autoracks
6) Green BNSF and BN hoppers
7) DODX empty flats
8) MKT green hopper
9) Long string of reefers
10) Lumber cars
LITTLE ROCK, AUGUST 16, 2009
- Sunday, August 16, 2009 at the station in Little Rock,
Arkansas. Two Ferromex units headed a train at sunrise. Included today:
1) Ferromex 4614, 4655
2) UP 9817, 8670, 5506, 7459, 1540, 2450, 5841, 6667
3) Ashley Drew & Northern Boxcar HS 30615
4) Cotton Belt hopper
5) Valdosta Southern Railroad Company HS 3868
6) Closeup of loud cricket
7) Large jet overhead
8) Closeup of pigeon
LITTLE ROCK, AUGUST 18-20, 2009
- Clouds, fog, rain and trains in Arkansas, August 18-20, 2009.
Included:
1) Dark clouds and rain and signals.
2) WAMX 2003, bright yellow
3) GMTX 2143 and HLCX 3810
BRINKLEY AND LITTLE ROCK, AUGUST
22, 2009 - Saturday, August 22, 2009
at Brinkley and one shot at Little Rock. Included today:
1) NS 9891
2) UP 4100, 4439, 5253
3) Blue CN and GT hi-cubes
4) Providence & Worchester Railroad autorack
LITTLE ROCK, AUGUST 23, 2009
- Sunday, August 23, 2009 at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Slow day trainwise. Included:
1) UP 9735, 1539, 1540, 2482, 4057
2)UP Bush 4141 at Jenks Shops
3) NS 7551
4) MKT green hopper
5) Cardinal, green acorn tree and acorns
6) Load of untreated ties
7) Track panels (1/1 scale!)
8) Shell of D&RGW locomotive at Jenks
MIDNIGHT TRAINS AT THE DEPOT IN
LITTLE ROCK INCLUDING RINGLING BROS CIRCUS AND AMTRAK-AUGUST 24, 2009
- Midnight trains passing Union Station in Little Rock,
Arkansas,
Monday, August 24, 2009, including Amtrak Texas Eagle No. 22 and the
Ringling Brothers-Barnum&Bailey circus train on its way to
Illinois. I've also included Youtube videos of these trains -
I
put the digital video camera on a tripod and starting recording as I
took the still photos. Although dark, you can see enough detail of the
trains as they passed the Amtrak platform lights. Lots of action
between 10:30 pm on the 24th and 12:30 a.m. on the 25th. As usual when
Amtrak is in the station, a UP special agent was present in his patrol
car. All photos and videos by Ken Ziegenbein.
Included tonight:
1) UP 3927, 3968 (Circus Train), 6602
2) BNSF 3202
3) NS-Unknown
4) Ringling Brothers-Barnum&Bailey Circus train
5) Amtk 115 on the Texas Eagle
MISSOURI PACIFIC CABOOSE 13894 ON
TRAIN AUGUST 25, 2009
- Union Pacific picked up this caboose (Missouri Pacific 13894) from a
siding in Nashville, Arkansas on August 25, 2009, to be used in work
train service in the Little Rock and central Arkansas areas. I don't
know if it will be repainted or not. They had to use a pickup
truck to pull the caboose from its' storage siding because the track
would no longer support a locomotive. John C. Jones, who is a
local photographer who takes pictures on UP property for the local UP
work area, gave me this information. Most of these photos are mine, but
I've used a couple of John's at the end. It was nice to see a caboose
on the end of a revenue train. This MoPac caboose was built in
September 1980.
AUGUST 29, 2009 - LITTLLE ROCK
AND BRINKLEY, AR - Saturday, August 29, 2009 at
both Little Rock and Brinkley, Arkansas. Included today:
1) BN 1516, 3122 green
2) Santa Fe 555 warbonnet
3) CSX 5371
4) CN 2596
5) UP 6790, 8064
6) NS 9405
(Using new Lumix G1)
AUGUST 30, 2009 - LITTLE ROCK
- Lots of trains today at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas, 15
between 7:59 a.m. and 12:04 p.m. Of special interest was a short, empty
coal train with the last car having lost it coupler. According to a
trusted UP source: "The short coal train you saw was the result of the
coal dumper mishap at White Bluff. If you'll notice, between
the
second and third car the end are colored. (White on the second car and
red on the third car). That means that this is the end with the rotart
coupler. Someone fudged up and put the two spin ends next to
each
other. So that meant that two non spin ends were nest to each
other. The dumper operator didnt catch it and spun the car to
dump the coal. When it did, it snapped the drawbar and
coupler
off the car. Since it was near the end, they just unlinked
the
dpu and ran the rear three cars back to NLR. Thats the dpu
and
the rear three cars you saw". There were 6
trains between 10 and 11 a.m. alone. Trains (and one light engine move)
passed at 7:59 a.m., 8:54, 9:04, 9:45, 10:02, 10:22, 10:36, 10:39,
10:45, 10:53, 11:21, 11:35, 11:42, 11:51, 12:04 p.m. Included today:
1)
UP 4923, 1540, 1539, 6790, 7167, 5684, 5811, 4465, 5267, 7384, 2426,
4460, 1539 (again), 1930, 3858, 4211, 6430, 5011, 1975, 9497, 4068
2) GMTX 2156
3) Tiny green crab spider
4) Green MKT hopper
5) Load of pine tree logs
6) Short empty coal train with broken coupler
7) Lady jogger
AUGUST 31, 2009 - STUTTGART
- UP 4204 passing one of the Riceand Foods elevators in Stuttgart,
Arkansas, August 31, 2009. I've heard that this part of south
Arkansas (about 50 miles southeast of Little Rock) produces 50 percent
of the rice grown in the U.S.
ABANDONED COTTON BELT LINE
BETWEEN NORTH LITTLE ROCK AND ENGLAND, AR - AUGUST 31, 2009
- Abandoned roadbed of the Cotton Belt between North Little Rock and
England, Arkansas. Here are a few shots of this line (which I think was
taken up in the early 1990s) that I took August 31, 2009. I've also
included some from the Plantation Agriculture Museum in Scott,
Arkansas. Union Pacific recently restored and painted two SSW boxcars
and donated them to the Scott museum.
SEPTEMBER 3, 2009 AT LITTLE ROCK
- A couple of trains passing each other at the station in Little Rock
today, September 3, 2009. It was another in a series of cool, cloudy
mornings. These were taken in the 16x9 format, reduced from
4,000
pixels wide to 1,000 pixels wide for the web. Included today:
1) UP 6166 heading 8 other locomotives, 4349, 2482, 2285, 4676
2) Merry Christmas painted blue hopper
3) Load of lumber
4) Red Fall leaves already
5) GMTX 2122
STREETCARS AND CHEERLEADERS
SEPTEMBER 4, 2009
- The Arkansas Razorback Cheerleaders rode a streetcar from
the
Verizon Stop in North Little Rock to the River Market Stop in Little
Rock about 5 p.m September 4. The football Razorbacks were in town to
play Missouri State the next evening in Little Rock. They came from
Fayetteville, Arkansas a day early for the RazorRock rally, which
included the entire Razorback band as well as the cheerleaders. U of A
plays their home games at both Fayetteville and Little Rock.
SEPTEMBER 6, 2009 - LITTLE ROCK
- Sunday, September 6, 2009 at Union Station in Little Rock, AR.
Included today:
1) CONRAIL 7303
2) CSX 5413, 5445
3) HLCX 1074
4) SP UNPATCHED 9755
5) UP 9744, 9523, 9434, 4015, 7241, 5929, 4707, 4563, 5020, 4923, 2285,
1539, 1540, 4040
6) Trees in Herzog gondola
UP 1982-MOPAC HERITAGE- OTHERS
LITTLE ROCK, SEPTEMBER 8, 2009
- Tuesday, September 8, 2009 at Little Rock, Arkansas at Union Station.
Included is UP 1982, the MoPac Heritage, lodged in the middle of a
string of 8+ locomotives on the local from Pine Bluff (YPB71). Also
included today:
1) UP 5156, 6660, 9357, 1982, 4411, 4729,
2) CN 5624
3) Military tanks
4) Wheel sets
UP 1982 HEADING PINE BLUFF LOCAL
AT LITTLE ROCK SEPTEMBER 9, 2009
- Union Pacific 1982, the Missouri Pacific heritage unit, lead the
YNL75, Pine Bluff Local, past Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas
Wednesday, September 9, 2009. I also included two other trains and have
a Youtube movie of each one (my original Quicktime movie was 178 MB, so
I posted on Youtube to make it easier for viewers to download).
SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 - LITTLE ROCK
- Thursday, September 10, 2009 at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Another dark and rainy day, temperatures in the 70s. The Little Rock
area is between 12 and 13 inches above normal for the year. Included
today:
1) UP 8388 both today and on a circus train in 2007
2) UP 9742, 7761
3) NS 9251, Operation Lifesaver 25th anniversary locomotive
4) Remnants of the Honeydew Melon vine at the tracks in Little Rock
5) GMTX 2157
6) SP 9755
SEPTEMBER 12, 2009 - LITTLE ROCK-
RAIN
- Saturday, September 12, 2009 at Union Station in Little Rock,
Arkansas. Of special interest was a southbound train headed by a single
KCS unit with a single KCS DPU unit on the end. The radio said it was
the KCPB, but it's the first time I've seen two KCS locomotives on this
train. Also saw a US Army locomotive (a red and yellow unit No. 6504)
but it was too dark in the predawn for a photo) and a locomotive being
towed in the middle of a train, RSSX 2451). Photos included today:
1) RSSX 2451 in mid-train tow
2) UP 5263
3) KCS 4600 and 4601
4)
Fallen Flag freight cars: faded Rock Island boxcar HS 75306, Columbus
& Greenville boxcar HS 30955, Soo Line hopper, SOO 75179,
Another
Columbus & Greenville Boxcar, No. HS 30901
5) CN gondola, No. CN 156375
6) Staley hopper, No. KWT 5047
WINDMILL TRAIN IN RAIN SEPTEMBER
13, 2009-LITTLE ROCK, AR
- A wet Sunday, September 13, 2009 at Little Rock, Arkansas. We had
another long windmill train today. A trusted UP source told me that the
windmill trains come from Beaumont, TX. The blades and all.
No
blads made in Little ROck are shipped by rail yet. These
blades
and motors are assembled overseas (Spain I think) and are shipped over
here and unloaded at Beaumont Texas. They are usually
destined
for Manly, IA. The symbol is SBTMY. The train that came
through
had both blades and generators. I've also included a couple of Youtube
videos of the windmill train shot in HD. Also today:
1) UP 4192, 2482, 3815, 8366, 1930, 5997, 6178 (SP), 9717 (CNW)
2) SP 9755
3) GMTX 2156, 2157
4) MKT green hopper
5) SOO white boxcar 18886
6) Long windmill train
BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS - SEPTEMBER
19, 2009
- Saturday, September 19, 2009 at Brinkley, Arkansas (in eastern
Arkansas halfway to Memphis on Interstate 40). Only 3 trains today
between 859 a.m. and 4 p.m., but I added extra photos around the depot
museum, including a conductor's uniform, butterflies and flowers.
Included today:
1) 1950s conductor uniform on load to the museum
2) UP 9684, 5156
3) CSX unit on train in the movie
4) Picture of depot from trackside
5) Closeup of a colorful butterfly
6) Old Rock Island ties
SEPTEMBER 20, 2009 - LITTLE ROCK
- Sunday, September 20, 2009 at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Included today:
1) UP 5918, 4808, 8642, 8635, 4961, 5210, 6797, 5714, 4607, 1539, 5494,
8210
2) Load of brown pipes
UNION STATION STRUCTURE PICTURES,
SEPTEMBER 21, 2009
- On a rare sunny day, September 21, 2009, I decided to take some
photos of Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas, a very active office
complex. As you will see, the main parking lot is full of cars every
day with workers for companies that rent office space in the nearly 100
year old station. These views are of the south side of the building,
which is the main entrance. The Amtrak office is located on the north
(track) side on the lower level, as is the US Census Bureau. This lower
level is where I take my train photos. Union Station is located at
Victory and Markham Streets.
SEPTEMBER 21, 22, 23 AROUND
LITTLE ROCK, AR - A few shots taken September
21, 22 and 23, 2009 around Little Rock, Arkansas. Included:
1) DLSX switcher 1254
2) MBKX hoppers, all new
3) Ashley Drew & North boxcar HS 30614
4) UP 2426 in southwest Little Rock
5) Ferromex 4641
OPERATIION LIFESAVER UP
TRAINS-RUSSELLVILLE AR-SEPTEMBER 24, 2009
- On Thursday, September 24, 2009, Union Pacific ran a short Operation
Lifesaver train out of Russellville, Arkansas. It had two UP
locomotives, one on the front and one on the back (UP 9407 and UP
5330), and 2 UP passenger cars usually sitting in the UP's North Little
Rock yards (MP 3646 and MP 15802). Here are some photos of this train
in Russellville and going over the bridge over Illinois Bayou near
London, Arkansas, which is next to the Arkansas River and close to the
Arkansas Nuclear One power plant.
SWITCHER
PILGRIMS PRIDE-ATKINS, AR - SEPTEMBER 24, 2009
- Here's a shot I took of a switcher serving the Pilgrim's Pride plant
in Atkins, Arkansas on September 24, 2009. Atkins is near Russellville,
about 70 miles west of Little Rock on I-40. It used to be the pickle
capital of the world where Atkins Pickles were made.The locomotive was
CLC 99107.
DARDANELLE & RUSSELLVILLE
SHORTLINE RAILROAD-SEPTEMBER 24, 2009
- Some pictures of the Dardanelle & Russellville Railroad in
North
Dardanelle, Arkansas taken on September 24, 2009. This area is about 75
miles west of Little Rock on I-40. Several locomotives and old rolling
stock were in the active yard. Included are (please let me know if my
information needs correcting):
1) D&R Headquarters building and grounds in North Dardanelle,
AR (postal Russellville)
2) Old wooden baggage/mail car, number unknown
3) DR-15 (SW1, built 4/1949, ex-Galveston Wharves 201)
4) DR-16 (SW1, ex-Missouri Pacific/C&EI)
5) DR-18 (S1)
6) DR 1143 (GMD1-has CN lettering on the black frame; also has "GR-12t"
under the 1143 number)
7) DR Boxcar 14045
8) Unknown boxcar with a faded "?K?68
9) UP yellow caboose, no number, built in 1979
10) MP red caboose 13927
11) UP yellow caboose, UP-W754500 (these 3 cabooses are apparently for
sale)
12) Evans-Air Pak boxcar
SEPTEMBER 26, 2009 AT BRINKLEY, AR
- Saturday, September 26, 2009 at Brinkley, Arkansas. Included today:
1) NS 9699, 9611, 9018, 9118
2) UP 4513, 4877, 5282
3) KCS 4038 Belle
4) CSX 7788
5) Tree frog sticking to window
6) Dead Zenia
7) Patch of red spider lilies
SEPTEMBER 27, 2009 AT LITTLE ROCK
- Sunday, September 27, 2009 in Little Rock and North Little Rock.
Included:
1) GMTX 2001
2) UP 6475, 6832, 8536, 6526, 5714
3) Rock Island hopper LARGE
LOAD IN NORTH LITTLE ROCK, SEPTEMBER 28, 2009 - This
was sitting on a siding in North Little Rock, Arkansas this morning,
September 28, 2009 It's a large load from Siemens. I've gotten several
answers as to what is is, including: "A Generator. More specifically,
an Alternator for use in a power plant. - Mike Schattl" --
"Looks
like the stator for a generator to me. - Tom Balzen" -- Eric
Grissom said it may be a generator for windmills.
Well, here is the what is is, according to Larry:
"Inside
the shipping container is a 90 ton Wind turbine unit. I will dig out a
picture of the nacelle unit for you. This what sits on top of the tower
and the blades are attached to."
BNSF-UP MEET LITTLE ROCK,
SEPTEMBER 29,2009
- Relatively rare BNSF-UP meet at Union Station in Little Rock, Tuesday
September 29, 2009. The northbound BNSF train (the Houston/Dayton, TX
to Memphis, TN trackage rights train) met a UP loaded coal train
heading south. Also there were three Ferromex units on the
Little
Rock to Pine Bluff local. Crystal clear day and cool (40s this
morning). Included today:
1) Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar HS 30630
2) UP 7087, 5902, 5917, 2482, 6827, 4676, 7048, 4643, 9408, 9590,
4997,UPY 818
3) CSX 8605
4) Ferromex 4651, 4658, 4649
5) Chessie Cat hi-cube boxcar
6) HD movies of 3 of the trains (Youtube)
NIGHT TRAINS AT UNION STATION,
LITTLE ROCK-OCTOBER 3, 2009
- A few night photos at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas on
Saturday night, October 3, 2009. A group of rail friends were
there with me. Amtrak's Texas Eagle, northbound #22, arrived while we
were there, plus a few UP freights that were moving.
TRAINS IN THE RAIN, LITTLE
ROCK-OCTOBER 4, 2009
- Sunday, October 4, 2009 at the station in Little Rock, AR. It was a
rainy, cool day. It stayed at 55 or 56 degrees all day, about 20
degrees below normal (I've included a departure from normal rainfall
map at the end of the page that shows the whole country). Seen today:
1) NS 9280
2) UP 1539, 1540, 4643, 5050, 9779, 1917, 1930, 7047, 2025, 315
3) Ferromex 4651, 4692, 4600
4) GMTX 2157, 2156
5) SP unpatched 9755
6) CEFX 402
7) Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar HS 30671
8) Red Canada-CN hopper
9) Two green MKT hoppers
10) Rain
11) Old UP yellow boxcar UP 563111
12) Western Pacific boxcar
13) Two Cotton Belt hoppers
14) North Dakota Mill hopper
15) Departure From Normal U.S. rainfall map year to date
UP 1982-BCRAIL 4613-OLD GAS
STATION, OCTOBER 7, 2009
- Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas
and a side trip to photo an old, unique gas station close to UP's
tracks in Sherwood, Arkansas. Catch of the day was UP 1982 on the Pine
Bluff local and BCRail 4613. All photos taken by Ken Ziegenbein.
Included today:
1) BCRail 4613
2) UP 9648, 9663,4274, 683, 1982, 5272, 2460, 2420, 4712
3) "The Railroad Of Personal Service" hopper, ITLX 20058
4) GMTX 2149
5) Old abandoned classic gas station in Sherwood, AR
UP
1989-RIO GRANDE HERITAGE-ON OPERATION LIFESAVER, MAGNOLIA, TEXAS,
OCTOBER 13, 2009 -
I went to Magnolia, Texas on Tuesday morning, October 13, 2009, to get
a photo of an Operation Lifesaver train that ran between Spring and
Bryan, Texas, using UP Heritage 1989 (DRG unit) as one of two
locomotives. The short, 3-car train, had a locomotive at each
end. Seen are two more trains that morning, and some photos
of
the restored Magnolia MoPac depot, now housing a historical society.
The Operation Lifesaver train arrived at 8:39 a.m. with several people
boarding, including law enforcement personnel. It was a cloudy, warm
morning. Magnolia is between Houston/Spring and College Station/Bryan
on UP lines. This is the first time I've ever been to the town.
Included today:
1) UP 6060, 7830, 8063, 4803, 1989
2) CN 2593
3) UP streamlined passenger cars Challenger, Cheyenne and Columbine
BN 3014 ON BLUE
BELL/SP-T&NO LINE - BRENHAM TEXAS, OCTOBER 13, 2009
- I caught the BNSF Blue Bell Ice Cream switching move in Brenham,
Texas on Tuesday, October 13, 2009, using BN green 3014. They hauled
one railcar of sugar to the Blue Bell manufacturing plant just east of
downtown Brenham. The tracks they used are former Southern
Pacific/T&NO. BN 3014 stays in Brenham for this duty,
connecting
with the BNSF main line (Galveston Sub) at Peabody Street, next to the
Santa Fe Freight House (now a private residence). I also took 3 HD
movies of this move. There were 3 crew members on the train: one
engineer, and two riding the freight car protecting the crossings. It
was cloudy and humid with a downpour right after I took the pictures
(rain follows me around the country!!).
OCTOBER 20, 2009 AT LITTLE ROCK
- A bright, sunny Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at Little Rock, Arkansas,
both at Union Station and in southwest Little Rock at Mann
Road/Baseline. Included today:
1) RSSX 4544
2) UP7050, 6684, 5043, 4035, 7346, 351, 4786
3) SP/UP 6192
4) LLPX 2263
5) NS 9978
6) HLCX 3832
7) SOO Boxcar 18886
8) Dog crossing tracks
OCTOBER 21, 2009 - LITTLE ROCK
- Of special interest today, Wednesday October 21, 2009, was
unpatched Southern Pacific 9761, plus some CSX and NS mixed in with UP.
It was a cool day (about 60) with clouds moving in from the southwest
from the remnants of Hurricane Rick in the eastern Pacific. Heavy rain
was forecast here overnight and Thursday. As of today, Little Rock was
20.49 inches above normal for the year to date. Included today:
1) SP 9761
2) UP 1539, 1540, 2426, 2460, 8315, 8654, 4662, 5002, 7731, 9596
3) CSX 5209, 859(x?)
4) NS 6781, 9649, 9468, 9882
5) UP Rail Inspection Vehicle DC-31
6) BCRAIL boxcar BCOL 60425
7) Hazy sun and State Capitol photo
8) UP yellow short boxcar MNNR 1376
9) BN green high-side hoppers MWCX 01244 and 01246
10) "Old Man Winter on Steroids" graffiti (my title for it)
11) Falcon or hawk
HERITAGE 1982-1996, NORTH LITTLE
ROCK, OCTOBER 24, 2009
- Saturday, October 24, 2009 at Brinkley, Arkansas. Track work on the
line south of Brinkley caused some UP trains to be stopped for the
track curfew north of Brinkley, so only a handful of trains today. Also
included a quick shot of UP heritage locomotives 1996 and 1982 in North
Little Rock. Included:
1) UP 1982, 1996, 7376, 9662
2) Rio Grande (UP) 1355 North Little Rock
3) NS 9015, 8766
4) CSX 8063
OCTOBER 28, 2009 - LITTLE ROCK,
INCLUDING UP 4141-BUSH UNIT
- Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas.
It was a rare sunny day here. More rain will move in Thursday through
Friday and may give us over 3 inches of additional rainfall. As of
October 28, Little Rock is over 22 inches above normal for the
year, having already received 62.57 inches this year.
Included
today is a quick shot of UP 4141, the George Bush Library unit at Jenks
Shops in North Little Rock, plus:
1) UP 4141, George Bush Library unit
2) UP 2460, 9743, 1539, 9793, 1345, 4328, 4668, 7848, 7821, 4488, 9417,
8653, 8657
3) GMTX 2165
4) NS 2537
5) GCCX string of loaded gondolas
6) EEC red boxcar 2765
7) Cities Services Company hopper
AMTRAK'S TEXAS EAGLE, NO. 21,
ANNULLED IN LITTLE ROCK DUE TO FLOODING, OCTOBER 30, 2009
- Amtrak's Texas Eagle, No. 21, the southbound train from Chicago to
San Antonio, was annulled at Little Rock, Arkansas today, October 30,
2009 due to flooding and a derailment of a UP freight due to flooding.
According to Richard Finch, an Amtrak agent in Little Rock: "We had to
annul #21 at Little Rock this morning due to a derailment at Alexander,
Arkansas & couldn't detour on the Pine Bluff sub 'cause of
washouts. Bussed everybody between LRK & Ft. Worth &
turned
both trains." Amtrak 21 got here about 4 a.m. and was turned and
sitting at Union Station all day, and I've included some photos, one
with a UP freight passing. UP had that derailment in Alexander that
caused Amtrak to be annulled, plus UP also had a flood-induced
derailment near Coal Hill, Arkansas on the Van Buren sub in western
Arkansas.
Little Rock now is 27.94 inches above normal
for the year. We've had 68.26 inches so far. That's the 5th wettest
year on record so far. Of course, we have 2 months to go in 2009.
Also included today:
1) UP 7376, 3957
2) CSX 9044
3) AMTRAK 155
4) Empty BNSF coal train in the UP yards taken from the Locust Street
overpass
5)
Consist of the Texas Eagle: Superliner Coach 34120, Coach 34052, Coach
31011, Sightseer Lounge 33033, Diner 37009, Sleeper 32113, Sleeper
39010, Locomotive 155.
6) Blue Water 35th anniversary emblem on a Superliner Coach.
7) Fall foliage along UP's abandoned Camp Robinson Spur.
TRAINS, GHOSTS AND A SPIDER LADY
AT BRINKLEY, AR OCTOBER 31, 2009
- Saturday, October 31, 2009 at Brinkley, Arkansas. It was sunny and
cool, one of only 6 days in October that it hasn't rained. It was a fun
day. Being Halloween, I wore a ghost mask and the secretary, Terri,
wore a black spider-lady costume. We tried to catch a train and get in
the picture, but this only occurred one time since the trains normally
passed too quickly for us to get posed. Anyway, here's some photos.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN.
Included today:
1) NS 9938, 7521
2) CSX 5365
3) BNSF 4359
4) UP 9769, 4508
BNSF WARBONNET, UP 1996, FERROMEX
UNITS-OTHERS, LITTLE ROCK NOVEMBER 1, 2009
- Sunday, November 1, 2009 at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas. A
variable day trainwise, with only 1 train in the morning and 10 trains
between 2 and 4 in the afternoon, including UP 1996, the Southern
Pacific Heritage unit and some BNSF, CSX, FERROMEX units. Included
today:
1) UP 2460, 2420, 1356, 4198, 4604, 7158, 6010, 8245, 4369, 7868, 9440,
1996, 9482, 4095, 8069, 5118
2) CSX 8386, 7336, 4726
3) BNSF Warbonnet 759, 5906
4) GMTX 2615
5) FERROMEX 4634, 4677
6) New CTCX tank cars
7) BNSF streamlined autoracks
8) Lumber load
9) AM Boxcar 2434
10) Multi-dome tank car
11) Secured containers
12) Ladybug on my hand
13) Truck frames
14) New GBRX hoppers
UP 1996-KCS BELLE-LOTS OF UP
OLDER LOCOMOITVES-LITTLE ROCK, NOVEMBER 3, 2009
- Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at Union Station in Little Rock, AR and
east of Biddle Yards in Little Rock. Of special interest today is UP
1996, the SP Heritage, on the Pine Bluff local and a KCS Belle unit on
a northbound. There was two LONG locomotive consists.
Included
today:
1) UP 8096, 4532, 5330, 9660, 7174, 7088, 7010, 7621, 7363, 2482, 4383,
5209, 1956, 1987, 4800, 4171, 1996, 215, 224, 525, 208
2) SP/UP 7840
3) KCS BELLE 4128
4) Tropical painted boxcar ARMN 765180
NOVEMBER 15, 2009 LITTLE ROCK,
ARKANSAS
- Saturday and Sunday, November 14-15, 2009 at the station in Little
Rock, Arkansas Lots of trains photographed (21). It was very warm, near
70, but rain and much colder weather will move in tonight and Monday
with possible light snow north of the area by Tuesday morning. We're
still over 25 inches above normal in rainfall, but no rain has fallen
in November yet, but that will change tonight.
Included on this webpage for November 14 and 15:
1)
UP 4950, 4353, 7631, 2426, 6996, 6535, 5885, 4803, 7211, 6565, 6509,
6393, 1540, 1539, 4723, 1930, 2482, 6909, 4163, 4393, 8186, 4644, 6060,
6595, 9396, 8310, 8017, 3928
2) GMTX 2157, 2156
3) Conrail 6745
4) SP unpatched 9755
5) Green cables load
6) MOW UP truck
7) Remnants of famous Honeydew vines
8) BN green boxcar BN 217731
9) Compared LT Weight of coal aluminum gon with steel gon (in this
case, aluminum gondola was 1900 pounds lighter)
10) NFO Grain hopper
11) 1/160 N-Scale UP/Katy Heritage 1988 with 1/1 scale train in
background
12) NS Hi-cube boxcar NS 487700
13) Union Station sign was hit by a car last week, knocking down the
'Union' part
14) Yellow fall leaf
15) Ladybug on yellow Amtrak platform
16) Large load TBCX 76708
17) Father and boy watching trains
18) Plus more
SANTA FE LOCOMOTIVE 2746,
SOMERVILLE, TEXAS IN 1968
- Scanned this old Kodachrome slide of Santa Fe Locomotive 2746 taken
at Somerville, TX in April of 1968. The lines on the left of the scan
was caused by the scanner.
DARK AND TRAINS LITTLE ROCK,
NOVEMBER 17, 2009
- Here's a few shots I did on Tuesday, November 17, 2009 at the station
in Little Rock, Arkansas. It was late in the day and dark, so I got
some signal scenes and train lights. This time of year, it gets too
dark for photography here after 4 p.m. or so, especially when it's
cloudy. The sun officially set in Little Rock at 5:02 p.m. CST. Being
curious, I noticed it sets in Dallas and Houston at 5:24 p.m., 22
minutes later, San Antonio at 5:37 p.m., and Midland, Texas at 5:47
p.m. So rail photography in the afternoon would be possible 47 minutes
later at Midland than here. Of course, the sun also rises later in
Texas, so I can start taking pictures earlier in the day.
Included today:
1) UP 4153, 7108, 7048
2) CNW 6720, Operation Lifesaver unit
BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS, NOVEMBER 21,
2009
- Saturday, November 21, 2009 at Brinkley, Arkansas. Five trains today,
but I only photographed 4. Also included is a vivid sunset on my way
back to Little Rock on US 70.
Included today:
1) UP 4408, 9661, 4971, 8543
2) NS 8386
3) Vivid sunset
4) Brinkley Depot Museum/Central Delta Historical Society secretary
LITTLE ROCK, NOVEMBER 22,
2009-RED CHRISTMAS BOW AT STATION
- Sunday, November 22, 2009 at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas. My
'rolling roster' shots today include a CSX SD40-2 locomotive, No. 8082,
plus someone put a red Christmas bow on the lone cedar tree across the
tracks, and I framed some photos around that. Included today:
1) CSX 5426, 5228, 8082, 219
2) NS 7556
3) UP/COTTON BELT 2020
4) UP 1539, 1540, 4351, 4259, 4564, 2460, 2285, 5073, 5113, 8022, 4553,
9657, 4219, 9482
5) Truck frames
6) MKT partially red gondola 16035
7) Coil cars
8) Two loads of pipe
9) Christmas bow on cedar tree at the station
LITTLE ROCK, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
- Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Lots of trains today, including Little Rock & Western. I also
took
my monthly shot of UP B
1) Conrail(CSX) 7490
2) CSX 29, 711, 415
3) SP(UP) 6401
4)
UP 5298, 8215, 9657, 3825, 5809, 6562, 5339, 3999, 9819, 545, 2102,
4241, 8333, 4339, 8587, 2285, 5077, 8492, 4878, 4141, 8061
5) UP yellow boxcar
6) BN green hoppers
7) LRWN 1542, 1544
8) New shiny string of tank cars
9) String of yellow TTX boxcars
10) CSX/NYC hi-cube boxcar 239977
11) Rock dump cars
12) String of truck frame flatcars
13) A little risque lady graffiti art (separate link on site))
ROCK ISLAND DEPOT, LONOKE,
ARKANSAS WITH CHRISTMAS LIGHTS-NOVEMBER 28, 2009
- While driving back home from my Saturday volunteering at the
Brinkley, AR depot museum, I drove on US Highway 70 through Lonoke, AR
and came across these Christmas lights around the former Rock Island
depot in Lonoke. The depot is now used as the Chamber of Commerce.
KCS HOLIDAY EXPRESS-JEFFERSON,
TEXAS-NOVEMBER 30, 2009
- The Kansas City Southern's annual Holiday Express came to Jefferson,
Texas on Monday, November 30, 2009 and this site includes some photos
of the train in daylight and at night. I even took pictures inside the
trains' display cars.
Earlier in the day, around 2
p.m., I got a fantastic 3-KCS train meet in Lassater, TX at the
Lassater Road crossing, including the KCS Holiday Express. While taking
the pictures of the Christmas train, I had my other digital camera (the
Panasonic FZ28) on a tripod and turned on the HD movie mode to capture
the train's passing. There's a link to this movie on this page and
here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZY_pjGuNVY.
Lassater is about 7 miles west of Jefferson.
The train meet went like this: The first train was on the
siding
and was a mixed freight with a few container cars at the end. It was
heading east toward Jefferson at 1:19 p.m.. It was lead by KCS Belle
4124 and 4 other KCS and 2 NS units (I also included a movie of this
train - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaVbLAPaxos).
The second train was a westbound loaded KCS coal train, which had
leased UP locomotives, at 1:45 p.m. This coal train stopped on the main
line while the third train, the KCS Christmas train, passed eastbound
on the siding at 2:03 p.m., following the mixed freight. It was bright
sunshine by the time the Holiday Express showed up.
There
was a KCS MOW crew at this crossing waiting for the trains to pass and
these were the nicest railroad people I've ever chatted with. They came
over to where I was set up and told me about the three-train meet about
to happen. I had never been to this crossing before and it was
fantastic luck that the KCS people were there and that the site was a
good photo spot. (All photos and videos by Ken Ziegenbein)
Included today:
1) Friendly dog
2) KCS 1, 2, 4124-Belle, 4022, 2839, 2899, 1906
3) NS 2636, 6670
4) UP 7311, 6840
5) KCS Holiday Express and business train
6) Elves
COLORFUL LOCOMOITVES LITTLE ROCK,
DECEMBER 3, 2009 - Thursday, December 3, 2009 at
Little Rock. Various types of locomotives today, including:
1) SVGX 8601 (Savage) blue and gold locomotive
2) UP 3841, 8046, 8318
3) BNSF-SANTA FE 645 Warbonnet
4) CN 2509
5) BCRAIL 4605 or 4606
6) CKTY or DKTY gondola 12482, possible former MKT
7) String of blue-stake flatcars
8) Unidentified bird
TRAINS, STREETCARS, OTHER TRAINS
DECEMBER 4-11, 2009
- Here's a few train photos I did the past week (December 4 through
December 11, 2009) . I did a little 'doctoring' on one with my usual
sense of humor. Union Pacific has a new cement sign at the entrance to
their North Little Rock yard which was decorated for Christmas and I've
also included a photo of that. Included on this page:
1) UP 1539, 9400
2) Central Arkansas Transit streetcar 411 and 408
3) HLCX 3801
4) SP 9755-unpatched
5) KCS 4541 and 457 on an intermodal, the only locomotives on the train
6) New UP sign at the entrance to the North Little Rock Terminal
7) M.O.W equipment
COLD, RAINY AND TRAINS AT
BRINKLY, AR DECEMBER 12, 2009 - A wet and cold
Saturday, December 12, 2009 at the depot museum in Brinkley, Arkansas.
Included today:
1) CSX 9003, 7338
2) UP 9674, 3999, 4373, 4258, 5047
3) Load of pipes
4) CN 2537
5) Louis Jordan display. He was a 1940s blues singer.
6) A noisy goose up in the clouds
TRAINS-LITTLE ROCK, DECEMBER 14
AND 15, 2009 - A few trains Monday, December 14
and Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at Little Rock, Arkansas. Including:
1) UP-CNW 9798
2) UP 4508, 4248, 2482
3) KCS 4509
4) LRWN 1542, 1544
5) Panel track load ('Lionel Track')
3-WAY MEET LITTLE ROCK, AR,
DECEMBER 20, 2009 - Triple train meet, Little
Rock, Sunday, December 20, 2009 at Union Station. Included
today:
1) UP 9582, 7405, 2285, 4530, 2482
2) Ferromex 4663
3) CSX 7884
4) NS 9344, 7696
5) GT blue Hi-cubes
6) MoPac buzzsaw boxcar
7) Beans, Rice and Popcorn hoppers
CHRISTMAS-LIT STREETCAR - NORTH
LITTLE ROCK DECEMBER 21, 2009
- Central Arkansas Transit's River Rail Streetcar 409 lit up with
Christmas lights, Monday night, December 21, 2009 at the Verizon Arena
Streetcar Stop in North Little Rock, AR. It was 9:00 p.m.
AMTRAK'S TEXAS EAGLE STOPPED AT
BALD KNOB, AR DUE FLOODNG, DECEMBER 25, 2009
- Flooding on Christmas Day-December 25, 2009-across Arkansas
caused Amtrak's Texas Eagle #21 to be stopped at Bald Knob, Arkansas
due to flooding of UP's tracks south of there between Bald Knob (45
miles north of Little Rock on UP's main-north line to St Louis) and
Little Rock. Passengers were bused between Bald Knob and points south
to Texas. I spent a few hours going up to Bald Knob to get a photo of
the stopped Eagle at Bald Knob. Four-lane Highway 67/167 was under
water just north of Little Rock and I had to detour, going east to
Lonoke then north to Cabot then use old secondary roads to Bald Knob.
But I got my pictures!!
The Amtrak agent at Little Rock
told me that the northbound Texas Eagle, #22, had left Little Rock on
time about 11:30 p.m. Christmas Eve and had been walked through the
flooded track south of Bald Knob (I don't know if water was over the
track or just up to it). It was decided at that point (about midnight)
that the southbound Eagle #21, would NOT be walked through the flooded
track since it was getting worse, so the train was stopped at Bald Knob
and everybody taken off and bussed south. He said that it being
Christmas, it was very difficult to get buses. The one shown in the
photo is from a company called Memphis Trailways. I assume
the
train will be turned at Bald Knob and become the northbound #22 tonight
and that #22 will be turned at Little Rock and become the southbound
#22. I can't confirm that. That would mean buses will take passengers
off #22 and bus them to Bald Knob.
BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS DECEMBER 26,
2009
- A few trains at Brinkley, AR, Saturday December 26, 2009. Not that
many trains, but It was a fun day at the museum. Included today:
1) CSX 9003, 7338
2) UP 3925, 5023
3) Cotton Belt hopper 70032 with the Cotton Belt blue trademark
AMTRAK PASSENGERS BUSED TO LITTLE
ROCK FROM TEXAS DECEMBER 26, 2009
- On December 26, 2009, all Amtrak Texas Eagle passengers were bused
from San Antonio, Fort Worth, Dallas, Texas and points north to Little
Rock, Arkansas to get on the waiting Eagle #22, which had arrived that
morning as Amtrak #21, then turned to head back north as Amtrak #22.
Reason for all this busing was a washout that occurred Christmas Eve on
UP's line north of Little Rock. On Christmas Day, the southbound Eagle
#21 had been stopped at Bald Knob, AR due to this flooding, and
passengers bused to Little Rock and points south. Bald Knob
is
about 50 miles north of Little Rock. This stopped train eventually made
it through to Little Rock at 7:33 a.m. December 26 and headed south.
But since Amtrak #21 had been stopped in Bald Knob on Christmas Day, it
could not make it to San Antonio in time to become the northbound #22,
so on December 26, no trainset was available out of San Antonio. Thus
the busing.
I understand 160 passengers were bused and
all got on at Little Rock in the middle of the night. It took 5 buses.
The train was full out of Little Rock. Below are some photos and one
Youtube movie of the activity.
LAST OF THE SUMMER VINE-TRAINS
UNION STATION LITTLE ROCK, DECEMBER 31, 2009
- LAST OF THE SUMMER VINE - Last day of 2009 at the station in Little
Rock, Arkansas. I caught only a couple of trains today, but also got
the last shot of the year of the famous honeydew melon dried vine next
to the Amtrak platform (I know many have baited New Years Eve breath
waiting for that shot!!). Weather was dark and grey, but no rain (we
ended up the year over 31 inches above normal in rainfall with a total
of over 81 inches).
Included today:
1) UP 3913, 5047
2) Honeydew melon vine
2010
FIRST
TRAIN OF 2010 AT LITTLE ROCK, JANUARY 1, 2010
- First trains in 2010 at Little Rock. A new era has begun - LOL. I
finally got one train late this afternoon, January 1, 2010, my first
train photo of the year. It was a LONG intermodal which took 8 minutes
to pass Union Station at 15 mph. It had two units leading (UP
7715 and UP 4643) and two DPU units trailing (UP 4534 and UP 7914).
TRUMPETER SWANS AT HEBER SPRINGS,
ARKANSAS JANUARY 1
- On New Years Day 2010, my wife and I took a trip to Heber Springs,
Arkansas to see the Trumpeter Swans that migrate and winter on Magness
Lake near there. This group of Trumpeter Swans come from Minnesota.
I've included an informational sign about them. It was cold, 38 degrees
but crystal clear. The owner of this land where the lake it on said
there were 177 swans this year, somewhat more that previous years. (All
photos and movies by Ken Ziegenbein)
BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS TRAINS JANUARY
2, 2010
- Trains at Brinkley, Arkansas, Saturday January 2, 2010. It was cold
today, never getting above freezing, plus it was windy. The Brinkley
Depot Museum was also chilly inside and with such high ceilings in the
100-year-old depot, the heating bills this time of year are over $1,000
a month.
Included today:
1) UP 7783, 5301, 4644, 4841
2) CN 2629, 5726
3) Frozen flooded field behind the Brinkley depot
4) Snow on tank car
5) Cold secretary
SUNSET BETWEEN BRINKLEY AND
LITTLE ROCK, JANUARY 2, 2010 ON MY WAY HOME
-There was a good, colorful sunset, which I got shots of along US
Highway 70 between Carlisle and North Little Rock, Arkansas on
Saturday, January 2, 2010. It was below freezing and the clouds were
mid to high-level clouds. Also included is a rare 'sun prism' or as
some call it a 'sun dog'. The sun was behind the clouds. Its rays were
refracted into colors in a small area seen in the photo. I
got
this prism photo from the car as I was driving. About a minute later,
this colorful effect was gone.
RED FLAG TEST AT UNION STATION,
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS JANUARY 3, 2010
- Sunday, January 3, 2009 at a cold Union Station in Little Rock,
Arkansas. There was a 'Red Flag' test for two trains here today. It was
cloudy and 30 degrees with snow flurries.
Included today:
1) UP 6474, 4724, 4880
2) UPY 663
3) Red Flag inspectors
AMTRAK 21, SOUTHBOUND TEXAS
EAGLE, DERAILED AT HIGGINSON, ARKANSAS JANUARY 6, 2010
- PHOTOS BY JOHN C.
JONES, NOT ME
- Amtrak 21, the southbound Texas Eagle, derailed 2 of its 7 cars near
Higginson, Arkansas shortly after 3 a.m. Wednesday, January 6, 2010.
Higginson is about 60 miles north of Little Rock on the Union Pacific's
busy double-track line to St. Louis. There were 212
passengers on
the train and 14 crew members. All were eventually bused to points
south in Arkansas and Texas to San Antonio. Passengers going to Los
Angeles were put on the Sunset Limited at San Antonio. There were no
injuries reported. It was a media event with coverage on all local TV
stations and even CNN. The way I look at it, since no one was injured,
at least people now realize that a passenger train serves this area.
After all, the Texas Eagle usually comes through Little Rock at
midnight and 3 a.m. and nobody sees it, sort of 'out of sight-out of
mind.'
COLD AND ICY AT BRINKLEY, AR
JANUARY 9, 2010
- A very cold, icy day at the Brinkley, Arkansas Depot Museum on
Saturday, January 9, 2010. There were a good amount of trains too,
running slower than normal. The old Cotton Belt/Rock Island depot
(which is the museum) was hard to keep warm with it's high ceilings.
But we managed to keep warmish with the addition of space heaters and
warm-hearted staff. The flooded field and pond on the north side of the
depot was frozen over and I got some photos of the staff standing on
the ice (not me!!). While driving through the Cache River National
Wildlife Refuge on my way home to Little Rock, I noticed the flooded
swampy areas frozen over as well. You could ice skate around the
centuries-old Cypress trees!!
Included today:
1) UP 7772, 7364, 4584, 3781, 6842, 8094, 8243
2) UP/CNW 6721 Operation Lifesaver
3) CSX 7928, 8783, 5256, 8582, 8628, 8081
4) NS 9802, 6766
5) MKT 14047 red coil car
6) Flesh fly
7) Frozen pond and frozen staff
BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS TRAINS,
JANUARY 23, 2010
- At Brinkley, Arkansas's Depot Museum, Saturday, January 23, 2010. Of
special interest today is Genset ODFJELL 1400. It was a fantastic day,
museum-wise, not counting trains.
Included:
1) NS 9825
2) UP 4394, 4606, 4879
3) CSX 5, 8790
4) ODFJELL 1400 new genset
COLD AND ICY AT LITTLE ROCK,
JANUARY 30, 2010
- A winter storm slammed into Arkansas on Friday, January 29 and
Saturday, January 30, 2010 and had most of the state covered with snow,
freezing rain, and sleet. I braved the elements and got the following
pictures on January 30, including one train at Union Station. I was
basically the only car on the road. Temperature hovered around 27
degrees all day with gusty winds to 30 mph.
Included today:
1) Icy, empty streets of Little Rock
2) UP 9736
3) Ferromex 4604
'MOUNT BALLAST' COVERED WITH
SLEET PLUS TRAINS LITTLE ROCK JANUARY 31, 2010
- Sunday, January 31, 2010 was much warmer than the day before, when we
had a winter storm in Arkansas. Although Little Rock only got 1.5
inches, most of it was sleet, now snow, and there was a layer of
freezing rain ice under the sleet, so getting around on slick roads the
day before was tricky. Just 60 miles north of here in Mountain View and
other parts of north Arkanss, they got 14 inches of snow. It got up to
40 today and most of the roads become dry and clear.
Included today:
1) Snow/sleet covered Mount Ballast at Union Station.
2) UP 3943, 4216, 4557
3) CSX 7368
4) UP 4141, the Bush Unit at Jenks Shops.
UP 1982, MOPAC HERITAGE UNIT,
OTHER TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, AR, FEBRUARY 5, 2010
- Friday, February 5, 2010 at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas.
It was a rainy, cold day with temperatures in the mid to upper 30s, but
I made the trip specifically to catch UP 1982, the Missouri Pacific
Heritage unit, which was on a train from Houston, Texas to North Little
Rock (the QHONL). While waiting for that train, there were several
other trains running.
Including today:
1) UP 1982, 5539, 4129, 4445, 6509, 1029, 6644, 4283, 4104, 2420, 1905
2) BNSF 7307
3) CSX 5474
4) Ferromex 46x2, 4625
5) String of Procor tankcars
6) GT blue hi-cubes
7) Former Rock Island blue hoppers on one train: NAHX 65612, 65546,
65543, 65510, 65707, 65578, 65559, 65705
8) A robin
SNOW AT UNION STATION, LITTLE
ROCK, FEBRUARY 10, 2010
- Two-day old snow remained on tracks at Union Station in Little Rock,
AR, Wednesday, February 10, 2010. We had officially 7 inches on Monday.
I caught two trains and took some snow pictures.
Included today:
1) Snow scenes
2) BNSF 984, 5288
3) UP 2426, 9755
MAJOR SNOW AND SLEET STORM
REMNANTS, BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS, FEBRUARY 12, 2010- Arkansas and other parts of the country had a major snow
and sleet
storm on Monday, February 8, 2010. Below are some train and snow scenes
in Brinkley, Arkansas taken 4 days AFTER the storm ended. These photos
were taken Friday, February 12 and Saturday, February 13, when plenty
of snow and ice was still on the ground. However, by Saturday
afternoon, temperatures rose into the 40s and the snow was melting
rapidly. It's somewhat unusual for us here in Arkansas to have snow
cover for such a long period of time, but this year much of the central
and eastern parts of the county was having a winter of epic
proportions, much like the ones you read about in history books. For
instance, Dallas, Texas had 12.5 inches of snow in another storm late
in the week and the east and northeast parts of the country had
blizzards and several feet of snow during the week, shutting down even
Washington D.C. So far this month, here in Little Rock, temperatures
are running about 20 degrees below normal for February. (106 FEB 12)
Included today trainwise:
1) Central Arkansas Transit Streetcar 412
2) UP 9729, 4224, 8050, 4609, 4688, 5160, 5012, 4447, 4565, 8604
3) Ferromex 4659
4) NS 9304, 2503, 9952, 8992, 8356
5) CN 5799
6) RSSX 3429
7) Graffiti
8) MKT green hopper 588
9) Conrail 6770
10) Bill Sayger, Museum Director and Terri, the secretary
UP 1988 KATY HERITAGE UNIT,
LITTLE ROCK, AR FEBRUARY 19, 2010
- My favorite Union Pacific Heritage locomotive, UP 1988-the Katy unit-
came to North Little Rock, Arkansas on train QHONL-18 on Friday,
February 19, 2010 at 849 am cst. Here are 4 photos of the
train.
It was the 6th of 6 locomotives in the consist.
BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS TRAINS AND THE
CLOUD MONSTER, FEBRUARY 20, 2010
- Here's a few trains at Brinkley, Arkansas on Saturday, February 20,
2010, plus some scenes of the last snow on the ground from a snowstorm
2 weeks ago. It was in the lower 60s today.
Included today:
1) Museum cat
2) Museum secretary Terri
3) UP 6618, 5742, 7364,
4) Last of the snow from the big snow and sleet storm two weeks ago
5) Cloud Monster (my imagination at work!)
RAINY DAY TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, AR
FEBRUARY 21, 2010
- Here's some rainy-day train photos taken at Union Station in Little
Rock, Arkansas on Sunday, February 21, 2010. It got so dark about 10:30
a.m. that some floodlights turned on.
Included today:
1) 4536, 3862, 4171, 4727, 5722, 7083, UP/SP 6290, UP 2482, 2285, 2460
2) GMTX 2156
3) Ferromex 4602
4) MKT green hopper 544
5) Baretables mid-freight
6) Dark rain clouds and rainy, steamy scenes
7) Gulls flying to Hooters
8) Three stray dogs on platform
UP 2002 OLYMPIC UNIT AND UP 4141
BUSH UNIT NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR FEBRUAR 22, 2010
- UP 2002, the Salt Lake Olympic unit, is in the UP yards in North
Little Rock, Arkansas today, Monday, February 22, 2010, awaiting
overhaul at UP's Jenks Shops. UP 4141, the George Bush unit, is still
sitting in front of Jenks, and has been since late last Spring. I was
told yesterday that the Boy Scout special unit has been painted at
Jenks, and is having the decals put on this week. No, I have not seen
this unit nor do I know what UP will do with it after the Boy Scout
decals are applied. I'll try to keep you posted on it. (Ken Ziegenbein)
UP 1988-1996 NORTH LITTLE ROCK,
AR FEBRUARY 24, 2010
- Here's a couple of shots of UP 1988, the Katy Heritage, and UP 1996,
the SP heritage locomotive in the UP yards at North Little Rock,
February 254, 2010. I was in the yard by permission.
BRENHAM, TEXAS BNSF TRAINS, MARCH
1, 2010 - Here's a couple of BNSF trains
southbound through Brenham, Texas on March 1, 2010, a Monday. Included
are the following:
1) BNSF-SANTA FE 682 in warbonnet colors
2) BNSF 5486
3) BNSF-Santa Fe 3177 and 2198
VARIOUS TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, AR
PLUS FLYING SAUCER WAITRESSES, MARCH 4, 2010
- Here are some train photos on a nice, sunny day in Little Rock,
Arkansas, Thursday, March 4, 2010, plus one shot of three
classic
Flying Saucer waitresses!. Included today:
1) Saucer waitresses
2) UP/SP 2047
3) UP 7674, 5136, 7651, 5136, 6499, 7051, 5877, 4278, 9650, 2482, 2285,
9646, 5124
4) MKT green hoppers 517, 556, 540, 581
5) Rocks
6) NS 7525
7) LLPX 2231
8) DOA hoppers on flats
LITTLE
ROCK, AR, MARCH 6, 2010 - A few trains at Union Station in
Little Rock, Arkansas, Saturday, March 6, 2010. Included today:
1) MOW trucks
2) UP 2021, 2426,
3) SP 9755 unpatched
4) NS 9525
5) D&RGW hopper 10023.
STREETCARS AND TRAIN, LITTLE ROCK
MARATHON, MARCH 7, 2010
- Here's some Little Rock, Arkansas River Rail Streetcar photos with
Little Rock Marathon runners and crowds in the background, plus some
train photos at Union Station and 'my' Mockingbird at the station
again, Sunday, March 7, 2010.
Included today:
1) CAT's streetcars
2) Little Rock Marathon photos
4) UP 4145, 4629, 9674, 4698
5) UP/CNW 9741
6) Mockingbird
7) HATR 1220 boxcar
8) Rocks
9) CNW 520034 boxcar
10) CNIS hopper 368998
ASHLEY, DREW & NORTHERN
RARE BOXCAR, UP4141, 2010 LITTLE ROCK, AR MARCH 9, 2010
- UP 4141, the Bush Library unit, back outside next to the Scout 2010
(tarped) at Jenks Shops in North Little Rock on March 9, 2010. Also a
rare Ashley, Drew & Northern boxcar and a freight move on the
Amtrak siding at Union Station.
Included today:
1) UP 4141, 4405
2) Ashley, Drew & Northern HS 30631
3) CSX 5365
UP 1995-FERROMEX-STREETCAR LITTLE
ROCK, AR MARCH 11, 2010
- UP 1995, the CNW Heritage unit, and Ferromex 4696 in North Little
Rock, Arkansas, Thursday, March 11, 2010. Notice that the green on the
Ferromex matches the green on the CNW Heritage locomotive. I've also
included a shot of a Central Arkansas Transit Streetcar crossing the
Arkansas River on the Main Street Bridge between Little Rock and North
Little Rock.
LITTLE ROCK, AR, MARCH 14, 2010
- Sunday, March 14, 2010 at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas. An
unusual long string of UN-graffitied freight cars on one train and some
of these were old cars!
Included today:
1) UP 1540, 1539 (both repainted and overhauled), UP 6788, 7262, 7125
2) MKT green hopper 586
3) Long string of un-graffitied hoppers
4) BKTY MKT hopper with Katy trademark/emblem barely visible
5) One of my black gold sunset pictures (what lies beyond the sunset?)
LITTLE ROCK AND STUTTGART,
ARKANSAS, MARCH 15-16,2010 - Trains from
Stuttgart, Arkansas, March 15 and from Little Rock, March 16, 2010.
Included:
1) UP 4584, 4096, 9802
2) NS 8416, 6640, 6571
3) Work equipment
4) Rail train
5) Face
UP 1996
HERITAGE-OTHER TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, MARCH 17, 2010
- HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY!! - Wednesday, March 17, 2010 at Little Rock
and North Little Rock, Arkansas. Of special interest today was UP
Heritage locomotive 1996, the SP unit, plus a rare red MKT gondola.
Included today:
1) UP 1996, 2021, 8103 and 9712
2) UP/SP 2047
3) Red MKT gondola MKT 16035
SPRING-UNION STATION LITTLE
ROCK-MARCH 19, 2010
- Here are some photos I took on Friday, March 19, 2010 at Little Rock,
Arkansas of vivid Bradford Pear trees blooming with bright white
blossoms. The trees were across Victory Street from Union Station (the
Amtrak station). It was almost clear with deep blue skies and
temperature 72 degrees. Weather forecasts had a major cold snap
forecast for the weekend, with temperatures falling into the 40s by
Sunday with gusty winds and rain, with the rain becoming mixed with
snow Sunday night with lows in the mid 30s. So, these blooms will be
short-lived.
TRAINS AND STREETCARS LITTLE
ROCK, AR, MARCH 19, 2010
- Friday, March 19, 2010 in Little Rock, Arkansas showing a
couple of trains and streetcars. It was almost clear with deep blue
skies and temperature 72 degrees. Weather forecasts had a major cold
snap forecast for the weekend, with temperatures falling into the 40s
by Sunday with gusty winds and rain, with the rain becoming mixed with
snow Sunday night with lows in the mid 30s. I've also included some
pictures of some vivid white Bradford Pear tree blossoms next to Union
Station.
Included today:
1) Streetcar photos with scenes taken from inside and outside
2) Vivid Bradford Pear tree photos
3) BNSF 9663
4) UP 4940, 4120
5) CEFX 849
BRINKLEY,
ARKANSAS - SIX DIFFERENT ROADNAMES, MARCH 20, 2010
- Saturday, March 20, 2010 at Brinkley, Arkansas at the Brinkley Depot
Museum. Lots of trains today, some detour trains from the White Bluff
and Little Rock Subs. As you can see from my list of locomotives, you
can get a good variety of roadnames in Brinkley (6 different roadnames
today). It was nice and warm today, 70, but winter weather returned the
next day with highs in the upper 30s to lower 40s. Some parts of
western Arkansas got over a foot of snow on Sunday.
Included today:
1) UP 4255, 4648 (with Union Pacific written in script), 5975, 6565,
4324, 4898, 4544, 8099
2) HLCX red 3827
3) CSX 7885, 25, 5324
4) Conrail-NS 5442
5) CN 2596, 1235
6) NS 9700
7) Depot views
8) Pullman uniform on display with information
9) 1953 newspaper ads on display (local funeral home and cleaners ads)
10) ALM 1960 boxcar
11) Weird eye graffiti
COLD DAY, LITTLE ROCK, MARCH 21,
2010
- Cold, windy and drizzly here in the Little Rock, Arkansas area today,
Sunday, March 21, 2010, the second day of Spring. After high
temperatures near 70 yesterday, it was 39 degrees today with dark
clouds and drizzle. Northwest and West Arkansas had up to 10 inches of
snow last night and Sunday. I only got three trains today at Union
Station because Union Pacific is working on major track upgrades both
on the Little Rock and White Bluff Subs, so the lines were curfewed at
times.
Included today:
1) UP 4212, 9660, 4602
2) UP/SP 6359
3) Bird and popcorn
4) Truck frames
5) Seven autos with railfans
TRAINS AND STREETCARS, LITTLE
ROCK, MARCH 23, 2010 - A few trains today at
Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas, including:
1) CN 5531, 5544
2) UP 2482, 1539, 1540
3) NS 6676,, 2640, 2591
4) Streetcar 409
5) Donald Duck Easter bunny at the station
6) Ladybug
DONALD DUCK FAINTS AS TRAIN
APPROACHES, LITTLE ROCK, AR MARCH 23, 2010 - LOL
- Just for fun, I took a talking, walking Easter Donald Duck bunny to
Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas on March 23, 2010 and started it
waddling on the Amtrak platform as UP 2482 passed with a freight.
Notice that Mr. Duck was so excited to see the train, that he fell down
as soon as the train passed!! lol. Not sure what the engineer thought
about it. Click on this photo to view the Youtube video of this event
or simply click the direct Youtube link here (photos and video by Ken
Ziegenbein): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kClx4VvzP2E
UP 2010, THE BOY SCOUT UNIT,
PASSING UNION STATION LITTLE ROCK, AR MARCH 25, 2010-SHRINK-WRAPPED
- Union Pacific 2010, the Boy Scout unit (still shrink-wrapped), passed
Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas this morning at 9:41 a.m. CDT on
its way to Pine Bluff. I don't know its final destination, but since
it's heading south toward Pine Bluff, AR, I suspect it will
be
going to Texas (Dallas-Irving??). Thanks for the heads-up text from the
person who saw it in the yards. Here are some photos. (Ken Ziegenbein
photos)
ENHANCED COLORS ON TRAINS, LITTLE
ROCK, AR, MARCH 28, 2010
- Sunday, March 28, 2010 at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Nothing special today, so I decided to do some artistic coloring of
many of the photos, mainly the backgrounds. (All photos and artistic
work using Paint Shop Pro X2 by Ken Ziegenbein - thundertrain@gmail.com)
Included today:
1) UP 4353, 1913, 1966, 4056, 1539, 1540, 2426, 354
2) CSX 5204
3) My best friend, Mr. Mockingbird, on my car mirror
4) One flatcar loaded with poles
BRINKLEY, AR, TUESDAY MARCH 30,
2010 WITH VISITORS FROM ILLINOIS
- Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at Brinkley, Arkansas. A fellow railfan Mark
Loewe and his 8-year-old daughter Nicole were visiting Arkansas from
Illinois and made a stop at Brinkley on their week-long train watching
trip during spring break. There were a good number of trains, including
the daily-except-Saturday northbound PBJB and a yard locomotive
switching a plant.
Included today:
1) UP 9597, 4379, 7700, 4017, 5385, 4813, 3830, 7011, 5223
2) GMTX 2126
3) CSX 8137, 5332, 8701
4) Crybaby graffiti
5) Rock Island boxcar
UP 2010, THE BOY SCOUT TRIBUTE
LOCOMOTIVE, ON ITS FIRST REVENUE RUN-LITTLE ROCK, APRIL 3, 2010
- UP 2010, the Boy Scout unit, made its first revenue run from Spring,
Texas (near Houston) to North Little Rock, Arkansas, passing Union
Station in Little Rock at 12:36 p.m. April 3, 2010. It was on the
QSPNL-2. Union Station is 'arkriver' on UP's station ID list. (Photos
by Ken Ziegenbein)
AKMD AND OTHER TRAINS, LITTLE
ROCK, APRIL 2-3, 2010 - Some trains Friday,
April 2 and Saturday, April 3, 2010 at Little Rock, Arkansas. Included
today:
1) AKMD 722 and 414
2) UP 4471, 3885
3) CN 2612
4) My mockingbord friend
TEXAS WILDFLOWERS APRIL 12, 13,
14, 2009
- Texas wildflowers taken April 12, 13, and 15, 2010 along highways in
southeast Texas from Brenham southward to Schulenburg and Halletsville.
Some are along highways 77, 290, 36, among others. The bluebonnets and
red blankets were still vivid in lots of places, as were bright yellow
flowers of some sort. Texas had an unusually cold and long winter, so
they were late blooming.
UP 844 ARRIVING IN KINGSVILLE,
TEXAS AND CROWDS-SHORT VERSION OF PAGE-APRIL 14, 2010
- A large crowd gathered at Kingsville, Texas at 10 a.m. April 14 for
844's arrival, even with on and off showers. Due to large crowds at
Woodsboro and Refugio (north of Kingsville), I was told that the
special made unscheduled stops for those crowds too, making it about an
hour and half late (arriving at Kingsville at 11:45 a.m.), but the
Kingsville crowd waited. After all, as far as I know, this was the
first steam locomotive to come to Kingsville in over 60 years. The city
of Bishop, the next station up the line, put up a Thank You sign for
the Valley Eagle. I saw many school kids (3 busloads), many
grandparents with their grandkids telling of memories of trains past,
and the general public admiring this locomotive. The train left at
12:12 pm. Union Pacific and its Public Relations department deserves an
A+ for this effort.
UP 844 IN KINGSVILLE, TEXAS APRIL
14, 2010 - FULL VERSION
- UP steam locomotive No. 844 made a trip in April, 2010 to celebrate
the 100th anniversary of Harlingen, Texas. This train left Cheyenne,
Wyoming April 2, 2010, visiting Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and
Arkansas. On Wednesday, April 14, 2010, the train stopped at
Kingsville, Texas, which is 2 hours north of Harlingen in the Rio
Grande Valley of Texas on the former Missouri Pacific line. The train
was named the "Valley Eagle," after a MoPac passenger train of the same
name that ran on this line from the late 1940s to early
1960s.
Pictures below show the train arriving, the crowds, train leaving, and
some Kingsville renovated depot shots.
RIO VALLEY SWITCHER NEAR DONNA
AND WESLACO, TEXAS APRIL 14, 2010
- These photos were taken on Wednesday, April 14, 2010 west
of
Donna, Texas and at Weslaco, Texas in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.
Rio Valley Switching Company No. 1233 a short distance west of Donna,
Texas on US 83, 5:25 p.m. Wednesday, April 14, 2010. I noticed tracks
all the way from Harlingen to McAllen, Texas, which appeared to used
very little. The tracks go through such towns as La Fena, Mercedes,
Weslaco, Donna, Alamo, San Juan, Pharr, then to McAllen. There were
lots of tank cars being stored on sidings along the line.
The Rio Valley Switching Company ("RVSC") is the “Valley Railroad”
interchanging with Union Pacific Railroad (www.uprr.com) in Harlingen
and extending west 55 miles / 88 km to Mission, Edinburg and
to
the McAllen Foreign Trade Zone. RVSC also extends Northwest
11 /
18 km miles to Santa Rosa. (http://www.riovalleyswitching.com/)
UP 844 AND FORMER MOPAC FREIGHT
STATION, HARLINGEN, TEXAS APRIL 14, 2010
- Harlingen, Texas April 14, 2010. UP steam locomotive 844 visited
Harlingen as part of Harlingen's 100th anniversary. The train was on
the "Valley Eagle" tour, that began in Cheyenne, Wyoming in early April
and would include several states in the midwest and south. "Valley
Eagle" was the name of a Missouri Pacific passenger train that ran
between Houston and Brownsville, Texas from the late 1940s to early
1960s.
The special had stopped at Kingsville around
noon the same day and then ran south to Harlingen and would be
displayed there the next day at Centennial Park. I got photos of the
train in Harlingen on April 14, along with pictures of the former
Missouri Pacific Freight Station in Harlingen. This former MoPac
freight station is now home of a golf cart company. They told me that
the Missouri Pacific passenger station was demolished in the 1960s.
KCS BELLES SOUTH OF VICTORIA,
TEXAS, APRIL 15, 2010
- My KCS catch (matched pair of KCS Belle's 4681 and 4680) on April 15,
2010, 21 miles south of Victoria, Texas on US 77. Unfortunately, since
I parked off the shoulder of highway 77, I was standing in the grass
when I took the first picture. Little did I realize that my left foot
was in a fire ant bed! I took the picture and quickly brushed off all
the ants (my foot was covered). Amazingly, I only got bitten 3 times,
and didn't have any severe reaction. Guess I 'paid' for this shot,
wouldn't you say?
Meridian&Bigbee 107
(MB-107) and others, Little Rock, Arkansas, April 20, 2010
- Meridian&Bigbee 107 (MB-107) and others, Little Rock,
Arkansas at
Union Station, Tuesday, April 20, 2010. This unit was leading the
Little Rock & Western train westward with LRWN 1544 and 1542
also
in the consist. They don't usually run all three locomotives together.
(Thanks to John Hodkin, Jr for telling me about M&B 107 being
in
Little Rock). (Tomorrow, Wednesday April 21, UP steam locomotive 844
will arrive at this site)
VARIOUS TRAINS, LITTLE ROCK, AR,
APRIL 21, 2010
- Trains at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas, Wednesday, April
21, 2010, the day the UP 844 steam locomotive arrived. There
were
numerous trains during the day. Of special interest is RSSX 1078,
ex-Mid South GP10 and UP/Rio Grande 1900. Plus UP 4141, still stored at
Jenks Shops in North Little Rock.
Included today:
1) UP 4141, 844, 1975, 7446, 4378, 8155, 2285, 1539, 8077, 6812, 7627,
8666
2) UP/RIO GRANDE 1900
3) UP/CNW 6708
4) RSSX 1078
5) NS 9022, 9402
6) Pipe load
7) My Mockingbird
8) Face
UP 844 VIDEOS APRIL 23, 2010
- Here are 4 videos I made Friday, April 23, 2010 of UP 844. Three are
of the train crossing the Baring Cross bridge, one crossing Illinois
Bayou west of Russellville, AR. I also took many photos, which are my
main interest. I usually put the camera with the video (Panasonic FZ28)
on a tripod and take stills with my Lumix G-1. I see that I should have
zoomed in a little more on some of these videos (like I did on one),
but I can always imagine how trains look on an N-scale layout I guess.
UP 844 NORTH LITTLE ROCK AND
RUSSELLVILLE, AR APRIL 23, 2010
- On Friday, April 23, 2010, UP 844 left North Little Rock and headed
west to Van Buren, Arkansas through Russellville. Photos and videos
below. Other locomotives and rolling stock included today:
1) UP/SSW 1962
2) UP 1966, 7856, 5720
3) MKT red gondola 16014
BNSF-SANTA FE AND BN UNITS,
CASKET COMPANY TRACKS LITTLE ROCK APRIL 27 AND 29, 2010
- Wednesday and Thursday, April 27 and 29, 2010 at Union Station in
Little Rock, using a new site at North UD for taking some of these
pictures. Of special interest is the BNSF local with a Santa
Fe
'bluebonnet' and BN green unit. Also parts of the
long-abandoned
siding tracks that once led to a casket company. Included today:
1) UP 1975, 2027, 1959, 6563, 6333, 6619
2) BNSF-SF 8714, BNSF-BN green 1524 Operational Lifesaver
3) SP unpatched 9755
4) Small wood poles
5) Alligator graffiti, REPOS graffiti
6) Black carbon hopper
7) Abandoned tracks that used to go to a casket company
8) MKT greet hoppers 523 and 556
9) Pipes
10) CLRE blue boxcar
11) UP work equipment
12) railbox/TTX GNTX 295381 gondola
13) Rose at my house
LATE AMTRAK 21, SOUTHBOUND TEXAS
EAGLE, LITTLE ROCK MAY 1, 2010
- On Saturday, May 1, 2010, Amtrak's No. 21, the southbound Texas
Eagle, arrived in Little Rock, Arkansas at 9:00 a.m., about 6 hours
late (it normally arrives about 3 a.m.). It was late because of severe
weather, tornadoes and flooding between St. Louis and Little Rock the
night before, which played havoc with some railroad signals. More bad
weather was forecast today as well with Arkansas in another High Risk
area for tornadoes.
BNSF AUTO-TRAIN, OTHERS LITTLE
ROCK, AR MAY 1, 2010
- Saturday, May 1, 2010 at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas. Yes,
it was another dark, cloudy day for the most part. More tornadoes and
severe weather moved in late in the day. Included today:
1) BNSF 8959, 4572
2) UP 4055, 6856
3) CN 2610
4) MOW parade, including CATS 0906
5) MKT 586, green hopper
6) KWT 5188 hopper
7) Columbus & Greenville boxcar HS 30849
8) HS 3920 (can't read name) boxcar
9) HS 30123, MT&W (Marinette, Tomahawk & Western
Railroad Company) boxcar
10) Lots of graffiti eyes on a boxcar
INCIDENT AT UNION STATION TODAY,
PLUS TRAINS MAY 2, 2010
- We had a little excitement today, Sunday May 2, 2010, at Union
Station in Little Rock. About 11:30, a southbound train stopped at the
north part of the station tracks near milepost X346 and soon after we
noticed a UP Special Agent and people getting out of the cab
of
UP 9704 and walk across the tracks. Apparently, someone fell from the
wall on the far (north) side of the tracks and was laying on the
ground. Soon after, Little Rock police, a firetruck and ambulance
arrived at the scene. The railroad was tied up while this was
going on (about 35 minutes). By 12:08 p.m. the train continued on its
way. I got some pictures of this from a long way away, using my 18x
zoom.
Also included today:
1) UP 9704, 9742, 7816, 7447, 2285, 2482
2) Meridian & Bigbee-107
3) LRWN 1544 and 1542
4) CNW 752929, former Rock Island blue hopper
UP 2001, THE OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY
LOCOMOTIVE, LITTLE ROCK MAY 5
- Union Pacific Olympic Torch Relay locomotive 2001 passed Union
Station in Little Rock, Arkansas Wednesday, May 5, 2010 at
12:30
p.m. The train stopped in front of Union Station to wait for
signal, so I got some up close and personal photos of this 10-year old
locomotive. It was on the Long Beach, California to Marion, Arkansas
(West Memphis) intermodal train symboled IHJMN-3. The unit was the
second in the consist. Thanks to John C. Jones for giving me a heads-up
on its arrival.
UP 1995 AND SPECIAL THROUGH BALD
KNOB, AR, MAY 8, 2010
- UP Heritage 1995, the CNW unit, headed a UP engineering
special
southbound through Bald Knob, Arkansas on Saturday, May 8, 2010, 4:27
p.m. on its way to North Little Rock, then Houston, Texas on Sunday.
Bald Knob was also having their annual Strawberry City Festival today.
BALD KNOB, ARKANSAS STRAWBERRY
FESTIVAL MAY 8, 2010
- Bald Knob, Arkansas Strawberry Homefest, Saturday, May 8,
2010.
This has been an annual celebration for decades. Back in the early part
of the 20th century, there used to be unit strawberry trains out of
here on the Missouri Pacific, up until the 1950s. This is also the day
UP 1995 headed UP's Engineering Special through here. Bald Knob is an
hours drive north of Little Rock on the busy Union Pacific Hoxie and
Memphis Subs.
UP 1995 AND ENGINEERING SPECIAL
LITTLE ROCK PLUS BNSF, OTHERS, MAY 9, 2010
- UP 1995 leads a UP engineering special out of Little Rock in the
early morning cold rain on Sunday, May 9, 2010, plus a long BNSF
trackage rights train passes Union Station on the Little Rock &
Western tracks on its way to Memphis. What's unusual about this train
is the Santa Fe warbonnet on the point (No. 555), plus BNSF orange unit
(No. 3199) and a Santa Fe blue and yellow unit (No. 8714) - it was a
very colorful train and we had red, yellow and green signals, making
for a colorful Christmas tree look at the station.
Included today:
1) UP 1995, 6844, 7301, 4871
2) BNSF/SANTA FE 555 (Warbonnet)
3) BNSF 3199 (Orange)
4) BNSF-Santa Fe 8714 (blue/yellow)
5) UP Engineering Special
6) TXUX single loaded coal car on the BNSF Memphis train
7) BMC hopper CROX 9675
UP 1982-1996 WITH OPERATION
LIFESAVER TRAIN, BALD KNOB, AR MAY 9, 2010
- UP's heritage locomotives 1982 and 1996 pulled three UP passenger
cars southbound through Bald Knob, Arkansas on their way to North
Little Rock on Sunday, May 9, 2010. This train will be used the
following week in central Arkansas for Operation Lifesaver trains. The
3 passenger cars were "Challenger" dome, "Texas Eagle" and "Feather
River." Note the signal bridge north of the Bald Knob renovated depot,
now housing a railroad museum and excellent hobby shop called "Arkansas
Traveler Hobbies."
BALD KNOB, AR TRAINS MAY 8-9, 2010
- Here's a few trains at Bald Knob, Arkansas, where UP's Hoxie Sub
(from Poplar Bluff to North Little Rock) meets UP's Memphis Sub (from
Bald Knob to Memphis). These were taken Saturday, May 8 and Sunday, May
9, 2010. On May 8, Bald Knob had it annual Strawberry Homefest (in the
early part of the 20th century, there used to be unit trains of
strawberries shipped from Bald Knob every year). To see some photos I
took of this festival, click on:
http://thundertrain.org/BaldKnobStrawberry-050810.html
Included are:
1)
UP 3826, 4875, 2053, 1995 (CNW Heritage), 8535, 8504, 5178, 4442, 5825,
6231(SP), 7131, 1982 (MoPac Heritage), 1996 (SP Heritage).
2) NS 9083
3) UP Boxcar 355268
4) Load of poles
5) Old signal bridges
6) Farmers Co-op Elevator Giltner, Nebraska hopper, KWT 5290
7) GLFX coal cars
8) Display cabooses MoPac 11019, 13675
9) 1894 Missouri & North Arkansas RPO/Coach
10) Bald Knob depot scenes
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS, MAY 7-11, 2010
- Various trains in Little Rock and North Little Rock, May 7, 8, 9, 10
and 11, 2010.
Included are:
1) SP unpatched 7104
2) UP 6844, 4871, 3975, 4140, 7847, 1996
3) BNSF 4506
4) MKT green hoppers 549, 507, 586
5) Blackberries next to Amtrak platform
6) Fat gopher
OLD SIGNALS, BALD KNOB, ARKANSAS,
MAY 8, 2010
- This signal is located on the busy Union Pacific Hoxie Sub through
Bald Knob, Arkansas (about an hours drive north of Little Rock in north
Arkansas). It's just south of the renovated Bald Knob depot. I'd like
to find out how rare these bridge signals are and, in particular, the
round, 3-lens system to the right. UP has been tearing these old bridge
signals down north of here, but so far have not done anything with this
one. Can anybody tell me the dates these were put in on this former
Missouri Pacific line?
I received one reply regarding
the 'round' signal: "Regarding the Signal Bridge and "Round Signal" at
Bald Knob. Due to the shadow on the round signal it is
difficult
to tell, but this appears to be one of the old signal heads with three
lenses arranged in a triangle. These were made by General Railway
Signal and were used by MoPac, I.C. and a very few other
roads.
If this is the case, it is likely one of the last still in service."
Any corrections or more details on this?
In the photos
below, I lightened up the images a lot so I could see the 3 lenses in
the round signal. (Just for your information, Amtrak's Texas Eagles
pass this signal every night, the northbound St Louis to Chicago train
about 1 a.m. and the southbound Little Rock to Dallas train about 1:30
a.m., sometimes passing here).
UP SPECIAL TWO-CAR TRAIN, LITTLE
ROCK, MAY 14, 2010
- A Union Pacific passenger special passed Union Station in Little
Rock, Arkansas on Friday, May 14, 2010, arriving 7:18 p.m and leaving
7:30 p.m. It stopped because the drawbridge of the Baring Cross Bridge
over the Arkansas River was raised for a barge and the train sat at the
station for 10 minutes. It was going to Council Bluffs, Iowa and
originated in New Orleans, Louisiana earlier in the day. UP 4095 headed
the two-car special, which included dome car UPP 9005 Walter Dean and
observation car UPP 103 Cheyenne. Here are some photos and two embedded
YouTube video links. Thanks to a Conway railfan for giving me the heads
up on this train.
THIRTEEN TRAINS, FRIDAY EVENING,
MAY 14 2010 LITTLE ROCK
- There were 13 trains between 4:18 pm and 7:43 p.m. at Union Station
in Little Rock on Friday, May 14, 2010. Included on this web page:
1) Singing, happy Mockingbird overhead
2) UP 7650, 7816, 4631, 4272, 5747, 2482, 4641, 4095
3) LRWN 1544, 1542, 107
4) BNSF 6621
5) GMTX 2110
6) UP/SSW 1962
7) CSX 5344, 4822, 8067
8) CSXT Solar ballast cars
9) UPP 9005 dome car Walter Dean
10) UPP 103 observation car Cheyenne
11) MWCX hopper 101319
12) Red MKT gondola 16107
13) CSXT white hopper 291826
14) Lonely little purple flower among a sea of green
15) COER boxcars (Crab Orchard & Egyptian Railroad)
16) UP symboled boxcar 355155
17) Lots of ripe dewberries
18) SKRK old MoPac woodchip cars
UP SURVEY TO MOVE CURVED TRACK IN
BRINKLEY, AR MAY 15-TRAINS LITTLE ROCK MAY 16, 2010
- Various trains in Brinkley and Little Rock, Arkansas, Saturday May 15
and Sunday, May 16, 2010. UP did a survey in early May to make the
sharp curve from the Brinkley Sub to the Jonesboro Sub less severe and
I have some photos of the survey stakes and track to be moved. Also
included on this site:
1) CSX 7893
2) UP 9819, 5135, 4021, 8553, 2426, 9786, 6433
3) IC/CN 2720
4) DME boxcars
5) Two Chessie Hi-Cube boxcars, 180777 and 180546
6) VAIX airplane parts car
COTTON BELT 819-1986
- Cotton Belt steam locomotive 819 photos I took in the 1980s. This
locomotive resides at the Arkansas Railroad Museum in Pine Bluff,
Arkansas and is currently in many pieces waiting for an FRA inspection
at some point in the possibly distant future.
KATY
MEMORIES 1950s-1980s - MKT
Railroad photos I've taken from the 1950s to 1980s. Most were taken in
Texas and Arkansas (the Arkansas sightings are of the lines of MKT
locomotives that came to Jenks Shops after the MKT and UP merged in
1988). Some are in black and white, some color.
Included Katy locomotives and rolling stock:
1) 'Big Hook' MKT 1227
2) A couple of single-dome tank cars
3) F-unit locomotive 71-A
4)
Green-yellow striped locomotives (most in 'dead' line in North Little
Rock, June 1989): 360, 239, 219, 98, 92, 93, 122, 96, 108, 104, 121,
106, 94, 154, 100, 102, 111, 217, 119, 101, 91, 116, 110, 120, 107,
112, 109, 123, 192.
5) MKT green cabooses 132 and 205
6) Missouri Pacific 2000
UP 4141, NORTH LITTLE ROCK, MAR
23, 2010
- UP 4141, the George Bush, Sr Library locomotive, is still stored at
UP's Downing B. Jenks shop in North Little Rock, Arknasas at 8:12 a.m.
May 23, 2010. I have no later news on what UP will do with this
locomotive. I understand that it's in working condition and UP runs it
every 6 months or so in the back of the shops to keep it operational.
If anyone knows its future destiny, let me know.
LITTLE ROCK, BRINKLEY ARKANSAS,
MAY 18-23, 2010
- Lots of train on Sunday, May 23, 2010 at Union Station in Little
Rock. I've also included a few trains from Brinkley May 22. I saw two
Ashley Drew & Northern boxcars in one train. These boxcars are
getting rarer every day.
Included on this Web page:
1) UP 4141,
1551 (st Jenks), 6938 (DD40X displayed), 4581, 1959, 2482, 6932, 4121,
7286, 4009, 5494, 1930, 3814, 1540, 4020, 4774, 4273, 4058, 4673, 4448
2) NS/Conrail 8320, NS 9463, NS/Conrail 8461, NS 8987
3) UP/CNW 6710 Operation Lifesaver
4) UP/SP 6361 with red Union Pacific lettering
5) SP unpatched 9755
6) New entrance with flags for North Little Rock Terminal
7) Ashley Drew & Northern boxcars HS 53029 and HS 53058
8) MKT green hoppers 544 and 529 (some photo-shopping done to clean
some 4-letter graffiti)
9) Columbus & Greenville boxcar HS 309
10) Louis Reyfus Corp. hopper
11) Pipe loads
12) Rio Grande hoppers
13) New Orleans RR Boxcar 30875
14) Red Canada tank
15) Blue Alberta tank "Take an Alberta Break"
16) Mockingbird staring at me
17) Four-truck heavy duty flats
18) Lake Erie, Franklin & Clarion RR boxcar GNWR 7227
WINDMILL PARTS TRAIN-KCS BELLE
UNITS-NORTH LITTLE ROCK MAY 27, 2010
- On Thursday, May 27, 2010, I was driving home from downtown Little
Rock and as I was crossing the Main Street bridge over UP's tracks, I
noticed this long train with large white, circular, tarped wind power
equipment waiting to head west on the Van Buren Sub from the Little
Rock Sub. I made a quick detour on 13th street in North
Little
Rock, crossed the tracks, and waited. While I was waiting for it,
another train entered the Van Buren Sub from UP's main yards, lead by
two KCS Belle units. After the KCS train passed, I decided to walk to
the old wooden car and pedestrian overpass about a block away and wait
on the wind train there.
The covers over the wind
equipment read "SUZLON." From the Internet: Suzlon Energy is a global
wind power company based in India. In terms of market share, the
company is the largest wind turbine manufacturer in Asia (and the 5th
largest worldwide. I don't know where this train was headed.
Included today:
1) Wind turbine equipment
2) KCS 4104, 4047
3) UP 8462, 3789
SAGINAW, TEXAS PHOTOS MAY 28, 2010
- I took Amtrak's Texas Eagle 21 from Little Rock, Arkansas
to
Fort Worth, Texas, Friday, May 28, 2010 to attend the 24 Hours@Saginaw
trainwatching event. My friend Jerry Nunn, a fellow retired
meteorologist, picked me up at the Ticket and Transportation Center in
Fort Worth (the train came in early, by the way). Here are a few train
photos from that event (Ken Ziegenbein photos).
By the
way, I'm typing this June 1, which is the debut of my photo in Union
Pacific's official 2010 calendar (a shot of Union Station in Little
Rock). That means every person in the country viewing the UP
calendar will be seeing that photo as they change the page from May to
June, sorta like a nationwide photo exhibit.
Included today:
1) BNSF 1286, 8226, 1265, BNSF/Santa Fe Warbonnet 685
2) SSW 9642
3) UP 2085, 1960, 6734, 3965
4) NS 7565, 9274
5) RoadRailers
NIGHT PHOTO SHOOT OF FORT WORTH
& WESTERN RR-SAGINAW, TEXAS MAY 28, 2010
- Here's my attemps to get some night photos at Hodge Yard (Forth Worth
& Western-FWWR) in Saginaw, Texas, Friday night May 28, 2010.
This
was one activity of the great 24 Hours@Saginaw annual railfan event,
put together by the North Texas Chapter of the National Railway
Historical Society. Thanks especially to Patrick Phelan and Ken
Fitzgerald for their advice and knowledge in putting on this
event.Included are photos of FWWR 2017 and 2005.
UP 2010-SCOUT UNIT-UP 1988-KATY
UNIT MAY 30, 2010
- UP 2010, the Boy Scout unit, and UP 1988, Katy Heritage unit were the
6th and 7th units in a 7-unit consist on the MNPNL-28, which arrived in
North Little Rock, Arkansas at 3:48 p.m. May 30, 2010. These photos
were taken where Pershing Blvd goes under the UP Van Buren Sub. There
was a thunderstorm and lightning starting to move in when I got these
shots.
LITTLE ROCK, AR AND MUMFORD, TX
TRAINS, INCLUDING WIND PARTS, JUNE 1 AND 4, 2010
- Here's a couple of trains at Little Rock, June 4, 2010, including
another long train of Suzlon wind turbine parts, plus a train
near Mumford, Texas June 1.
Included:
1) UP 3939, 1539, 8482, 6824, 5258, 6704
2) Suzlon wind turbine parts
3) Yellow graffiti
4) Mockingbird
5) Census 2001 hopper, DCLX 7362
6) Southern Pacific semi-trailer
7) Wind turbine blade on a semi in Palestine, Texas
8) Storm clouds
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE TRIP LITTLE
ROCK-FORT WORTH MAY 28-29, 2010
- On Friday, May 28, 2010 I rode Amtrak's Texas Eagle No. 21 from
Little Rock, AR to Fort Worth, TX then returned to Little Rock on
Amtrak 22 the next afternoon. Both trains were basically full
with only a couple of empty seats. The southbound Texas Eagle No. 21
had 195 in the three Superliner coaches and 34 in the sold-out sleeping
cars, a total of 229 aboard. The three Superliner coaches each hold 60
passengers upstairs with two of the cars seating 10 downstairs,
potentially holding 200 people, so if we had 195, then there were only
5 empty seats! Excellent ridership for sure. The dining car steward
took reservations for lunch and dinner on both trains and I think the
meals were excellent (the menu is reproduced later on this web page).
POLITICAL MEDIA AT UNION STATION
LITTLE ROCK, JUNE 8, 2010
- Tuesday, June 8, 2010, election runoff day in Arknasas. When I went
to Union Station in Little Rock about 6:50 pm to photgraph trains, I
was met with the following media circus. They were all here to cover
the US Senate Democrat runoff election between Blanche Lincoln (the
incumbent) and Bill Halter. At the time I took these photos, the polls
were still open. Oh...I also got two trains passing.
Included today:
1) UP 4355, 5850
2) Little Rock Streetcar
REFURBISHED SD40-2 LOCOMOTIVES AT
UP'S JENK'S SHOPS IN NORTH LITTLE ROCK, PLUS UP COMPANY STORE
- Thursday, June 10, 2010 at Union Pacific's Jenks Shops in North
Little Rock, Arkansas. I got some shots of newly repainted and
overhauled SD40-2 locomotives as well as UP 4141, the George Bush unit.
Plus I got a photo of Richard and Marilyn Baldwin, who run the UP
Company Store at Jenks Shops, one of only two UP Company Stores
remaining (the other being in Omaha, Nebraska). The store is actually
run by a private company under contract.
Included today:
1) UP 4141, 8920, 1551, 1552, 1553, 1554, 5155
2) UP Company Store
FIVE TRAINS AT BRINKLEY, ARKANSAS
JUNE 12, 2010
- Five trains in Brinkley, Arkansas on Saturday, June 12, 2010. This
was the day after a large flash flood washed away campers at Camp
Albert Pike near Caddo Gap, Arkansas (75 miles west of Little Rock),
killing at least 18 men, women and children with dozens still missing
as I type this Saturday night. Many of the campers were from Texas and
Louisiana. The flood was on the Little Missouri and Caddo
Rivers.
The Caddo Valley RailroadAddress:Station is accessible (former Missouri
Pacific) still shows tracks on Google Maps through Caddo Gap up to
Norman, Arkansas, but I don't think there have been trains through
there in years.
Included today:
1) UP 4485, 5524, 6870, 7070, 6554, 8461
2) NS 7514, 9787
3) CSX 4735
4) Rio Grande hopper 25152
B&O HOPPER, TRAINS LITTLE
ROCK, JUNE 13, 2010
- Here are a few trains Sunday, June 13, 2010 at Union Station in
Little Rock, Arkansas. Today was another test of my new 24-720mm zoom
lens (30X) and also using Photoshop Elements 8 to resize these images
for the web using their Baseline Optimized Huffman Encoding setting to
make the images a smaller file size so they should be quicker to load
while obtaining a good quality. I used the new Fujifilm HS10 Finepix
digital camera, but will still be using my Panasonic Lumix G1 for most
of my photos in the future.
Included today:
1) GMTX 2156
2) NS 9540
3) UP 2056, 3827, 5034, 8575, 1539, 1540, 4544, 2263
4) UP/SP 2047
5) MKT green hopper 527
6) B&O/Chessie System yellow hopper 602908 with the Chessie
Cat. Could not see reporting marks. Anyone know?
7) Killdeer bird on tracks
8) Rock Island blue boxcar HS 75290
9) Dark blue Golden West boxcar lettered SSW 62688, freshly painted
10) Chessie System boxcar CSXT 166613
11) Columbus & Greenville Boxcars HS 30971 and 30955
DETOUR TRAIN WITHI UP 1982 IN THE
LEAD-LITTLE ROCK, JUNE 17, 2010
- On Thursday, June 17, 2010, UP 1982, the Missouri Pacific Heritage
unit, headed a detouring train from Houston to Kansas City via Little
Rock, Arkansas, then west on the Van Buren Sub. The reason for the
detour: A UP bridge in Kansas between Caldwell and Wellington, located
on the Rock Island's Texas main (Kansas City-Fort Worth) had a pier
washed away from recent floods in the area on June 15 so many UP trains
are detouring, some from Texas through Arkansas, connecting with the UP
main line in Kansas again at Coffeyville, Kansas. This was
one of
those detour trains, the MHOKC-16.
The train was
stopped near the Arkansas State Capitol and UP maintenance was looking
at a problem with 1982's horn. It stayed at South UD (at Milepost 347
near Union Station) for about an hour from around 5:45 p.m. until 6:50
p.m. June 17 waiting until the locomotive was deemed ready to go.
TWO BNSF-UP MEETS AT LITTLE ROCK,
JUNE 17, 2010
- A few trains today, Thursday June 17, 2010, at Little Rock, Arkansas,
including two BNSF-UP meets in front of Union Station. Included today:
1) BNSF 4821, 7376, 5365, 2329, 1517 (BN green)
2) UP 5133, 3984, 2460, 9380, 4601, 1982
3) MKT green hopper 592
4) Four Canadian Pacific Railway hoppers in a row
5) Large pipe load
CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO PASSENGER CAR
ON AMTRAK - LITTLE ROCK JUNE 19, 2010-
We had a surprise visit by Chesapeake and Ohio blue and yellow
heavyweight passenger car "Chapel Hill" at Little Rock, Arkansas on
Saturday morning, June 19, 2010. It was the rear car on the late Amtrak
Texas Eagle No.21, which left Little Rock at 10:30 a.m.
Markings
on the side of the car are as follows: "C and O for Progress,"
"Chesapeake and Ohio" in script written on the yellow band across the
top of the car, and the number 3 on one line and the number 800043
right below the 3
LATE TEXAS EAGLE, AMTRAK 21, JUNE
19, 2010 AT LITTLE ROCK
- On Saturday, June 19, 2010, we were surprized while photographing
trains at Union Station in Little Rock, AR when Amtrak 21, the
southbound Texas Eagle, arrived, 7 hours late. I was told that there
was an engine failure on the train after it left Chicago (near Joliet)
and Amtrak had to obtain another locomotive, which caused the delay. It
arrived at 10:18 a.m. and left at 10:28 a.m.
TRAINS, LITTLE ROCK, JUNE 20, 2010
- Sunday, June 20, 2010 - Father's Day - at Union Station in Little
Rock, AR. Included today:
1) UP 4411, 5163, 8068, 9653, 4205, 6495, 2420, UP/SP 6314
2) Arkansas Children's Hospital mid-flight helicopter overhead.
3) One of my fun effects
4) Sunrise on the rails
RSSX 1051, NORTH LITTLE ROCK,
AR-JUNE 21, 2010
- Here's RSSX 1051 in a line of locomotives in North Little Rock,
Arkansas on June 21. To me it appears it's been recently repainted.
Looking at the RSSX roster, it's a GP10, now assigned to Huntsman in
Port Neches, Texas. It used to be IC 9106, ICG 8106 and MSRC (Mid South
Locomotive) 1057. According to Tom Balzen: "Hadn't seen anything like
that before. I Googled Locomotive LEAF and got the following
result: http://www.railserveinc.com/leaf.html#locomotives
"This is a single GenSet locomotive featuring a Detroit
Diesel
DX370M, 550 HP Genset. Good for low speeds and
switching.According to Railserve's website, they have converted 15
former "hybrid" type locomotives into these and six "conventional"
locomotives into these. All are in use at various Railserve
contract switching sites. The website shows a photo of an EMD
switcher conversion. LEAF (look on the long hood of RSSX 1051) stands
for "LOW EMISSIONS AND FUEL". There you have it.- Tom Balzen"
ARGENTA ROCK ISLAND DEPOT, NORTH
LITTLE ROCK AR, JUNE 21, 2010
- On Monday, June 21, 2010, I had a tour of the renovated Argenta Rock
Island depot off Broadway (US Highway 70) in North Little Rock,
Arkansas. (North Little Rock was called Argenta early in the 20th
Century). A few years ago, this old Rock Island depot was renovated and
is now being run by the Sherman Park Community Development Corporation
of North Little Rock (Sherman Park Community Development Corporation,
Rock Island Argenta Train Depot, 1201 East 4th Street, North Little
Rock AR, 501-372-4050)
SIX ROADNAMES ON TWO TRAINS, JUNE
24, 2010-LITTLE ROCK
- Two trains-Six different roadnames passing Union Station in Little
Rock, Thursday, June 24, 2010 between 9:41 and 10:08 a.m. Included:
1) UP 4646, 8594
2) Ferromex 4650
3) BNSF 4170
4) CSX 9043
5) CN 2652, 2587
6) NS 2752
REBUILT SD40-2'S, UP 4141 JENKS
SHOPS NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR JUNE 24, 2010
- Here's a few shots of more rebuilt locomotives siting in front of
UP's Jenks Shops in North Little Rock, AR on June 24, 2010. Also a
couple of shots of bees and a loaded log car. Included:
1) UP 1555, 1566, 1550, 1552, 1551, 4141
2) Loaded small log car
3) Closeups of a bee
UP 262002 ON JUNE 25, 2010 - A
HIGH-ENDED FLATCAR THAT THE ARKANSAS RAILROAD CLUB USED IN 2002
- riday, June 25, 2010. Ever see the TV show "In Search Of..."? Well,
I've been searching for this particular Union Pacific high-end flatcar
since 2002, UP 262002. Why, you ask? Our Arkansas Railroad Club ran an
excursion way back on April 27, 2002 from El Dorado, Arkansas to
Lillie, Louisiana on the Ouachita Railroad (the OUCH) and we used this
particular car as part of the train. Some from our club rode on this
car in chairs, round-trip. To view photos of this past excursion on
April 27, 2002, click on this link:
http://www.trainweather.com/apr27.html
I received a call from a fellow Arkansas Railroad Club member
about 10:30 this morning (June 25) saying that this very flatcar was on
a train coming from Monroe, Louisiana to North Little Rock, Arkansas
and that it should be in North Little Rock late in the day. He was
right....it was the last car on the train.
TRAINS WITH NEW 90-400MM LENS
JUNE 25, 2010
- Here's the first photos I made with a new 45-200 (90-400mm 35mm
equiv) zoom lens for my Panasonic Lumix G1. These were taken on Friday,
June 25, 2010. Included:
1) UP 8654,
2) NS 2752
3) Anvil top of a distant thunderstorm.
FOUR TRAINS ON 4 TRACKS LITTLE
ROCK, PLUS BRINKLEY TRAINS JUNE 27, 2010
- Train photos from both Union Station in Little Rock and Brinkley,
Arkansas on Sunday, June 27, 2010. At Little Rock, I got a relatively
rare shot of four trains (at least locomotives) at the same time on all
four tracks in front of the station. Brinkley had its usual variety of
motive power, including NS and Conrail/NS.
Included today:
1) LLPX 2242
2) UP 2056, 1966, 6568, 1539, 7204, 6536, 7096, 7463, 7758, 4744
3) LRWN 1542
4) HLCX 3827
5) NS 7527, 9774
6) CONRAIL/NS 8316, 6719
7) Loads of bars/rods
8) Ashley Drew & Northern, HS 0503
9) "Glory Rays" sunset
TRAINS AT LITTLE ROCK AND A
SUNSET 5 HOURS LATER - JUNE 29, 2010
- Two trains Tuesday afternoon, June 29, 2010 at the station in Little
Rock, Arkansas plus a vivid sunset. We had rain this morning and it
stayed cloudy all day with temperatures staying in the cool upper 80s
as opposed to the mid to upper 90s the past month. Included today:
1) UP 4640, 5081, 1938
2) UP/COTTON BELT 1962
3) 'Baby' graffiti on boxcar SP 246401
4) Red MKT gondola MKT 16338
5) Vivid sunset
INDIVIDUAL BALLAST PIECES STUDY
AT LITTLE ROCK JUNE 30, 2010
- During a lull in trains at Union Station in Little Rock on Wednesday,
June 30, 2010, I decided to take closeups of pieces of ballast next to
the Amtrak siding to see the ballast's many shapes and textures. I call
this page "Grade the Ballast" and you can decide which piece is the
best. Two stand out, one in the shape of a wedge potato and one that
seems to have a smiley face on it. The adventure begins!! (I'm
sort of known for having a silly side at times, and this web site
proves it! Take it with a grain of salt and humor, like it was
intended).
TRAINS AT LITTLE ROCK, JUNE 30,
2010 - June 30, 2010-Trains at Little Rock,
Arkansas. Included today:
1) UP 1539, 6489, 4785, 9823, 1425
2) CSX 5274, 1425
3) GMTX 2165, 2676
4) Ferromex 4614
5) Santa Fe hopper BNSF 312451 with 'pure' Santa Fe markings
TRAINS AND A HOOTERS
HOSTESS-NORTH LITTLE ROCK JULY 1, 2010
- Here are a couple of photos of trains and one of a Hooter's hostess
taken on Thursday, July 1, 2010 at North Little Rock, Arkansas.
Included today:
1) NS 9788
2) SP unpatched 9755
3) Various UP locomotives
4) "Railheads" graffiti
5) Armadillo graffiti
6) Kristina, a Hooters hostess
TRAINS-LITTLE ROCK, AR JULY 3,
2010
- Lots of trains (11 trains between 930 and 11:50 a.m.) passing Union
Station in Little Rock, Arkansas today, July 3, 2010. A little unusual
today was NS 6556 leading a train with its long end forward. I saw a
good sampling of roadnames and freight cars as well.It was an overcast
day with some periods of light rain.
Here's was I saw today:
1) UP 6758, 6740, 3968, 8615, 4135, 2285, 2074, UP/SP 2047, UP 9380,
8150, UPY 123, UP 4346, 3903, 5282, 7403, 2056
2) CONRAIL/CSXT 7489
3) NS blue 8457, NS 6556-long end forward
4) CSX 8665
5) RIO GRANDE/UP 1900
6) CP RAIL red 9571
7) SOO Line faded boxcar 18886
8) Dancing graffiti on boxcar EEC 5463
9) Reilly Industries, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana tankcar 78017
10) UP Bulktainer
11) String of CN hi-cube boxcars
12) String of GT hi-cubes
13) GTRA 5144 boxcar
14) New, shiny white tank cars, one being CVCX 13459
15) KCS Belle-colored coil car KCS 720099
16) Bright red end of flatcar
17) General Chemical tankcar GRPX 944594
18) New GATX hoppers
19) Strong of yellow TTX boxcars
20) CSXT 180682 hi-cube boxcar
TRAINS THEN FIREWORKS LATER, JULY
4, 2010
- Here's a few photos of trains passing Union Station in Little Rock,
Arkansas on Monday, July 5, 2010 plus I added a couple of photos of
Little Rock's Fourth of July fireworks over the Arkansas River the
night before. DOWX had a special 5-car tank train pass the station at
7:36 a.m., which is the main reason I got up so early on this Monday
Fourth of July holiday. The special was SFPMI-3, Freeport, Texas to
Salem, Illinois. UP was running only high priority trains today with
many trains not running. However, I lucked out and got three trains in
about a half hour, including one headed by a KCS Belle unit!
Included today:
1) Sunrise at Union Station.
2) UP 4306, 9399, 7849
3) KCS 4703 Belle unit
4) Red MKT gondola, 16338.
5) Fireworks
SPECIAL
TROOPER-ON-A-TRAIN-INTERESTING CONSIST-JULY 7, 2010
- Wednesday, July 7, 2010. There was a special 'Trooper-on-a-Train run
from North Little Rock to Marche, Arkansas and back. (Marche is on
UP's Van Buren Sub about 10 miles west of North Little Rock).
I
got it at Vine Street and Arkansas Blvd in North Little Rock. The
special was the SNLNL-7 and consisted of UP 7443, UP crew car MP 3646
(with 6-axle trucks), UP baggage car MP 15082, MoPac red caboose 13064
and trailing locomotive UP 7846. Usually the purpose of a trip like
this is to give warning tickets to cars who run past crossing signals
(in fact, I got a picture of a car running around downed crossing gates
as this train approached). It was not an official Operation Lifesaver
event, I was told.
RARE BNSF TRAIN ON VAN BUREN
SUB-OTHER TRAINS, JULY 7, 2010
- A few trains today, July 7, 2010 at North Little Rock, Arkansas
(no....not at Union Station :-). Included is a detouring (I think?)
BNSF train on the Van Buren Sub with nothing but ATSF and BN hoppers,
plus a special "Trooper on a Train" run. I don't remember seeing a BNSF
train on UP's Van Buren Sub before.
Included today:
1) BNSF 5189, 5202
2) NS 8343
3) UP 1966, 2346, 4739, 7443, 7846
4) Golden Triangle boxcars
5) MP 3646, 6-axle truck passenger car
6) MP 15082 baggage car
7) MoPac rec caboose (painted at Jenks Shops about a year ago) 13064
RAIN, TRAINS AND WIND TURBINES
LITTLE ROCK-PLUS A TRAIN AT BRINKLEY, AR JULY 10, 2010
- Rain and trains, Saturday, July 10, 2010, including a wind turbine
train passing the BNSF local in pouring rain at Little Rock around 1
p.m.. I've also included one train at Brinkley, Arkansas, 55 miles east
of Little Rock on Interstate 40.
Included today:
1) BNSF 3182, BNSF/BN 3286
2) UP/SP 2047, UP 4051, 5029, 4858, 4694
3) North Louisiana & Gulf boxcar HS 3880
4) Dark clouds and heavy rain with wind turbine train
5) CSXT Hi-cubes with auto parts, Nos. 180582, 180750, 180678, NYC/CSX
239271
6) Dragonfly
7) MKT green hopper 539
8) Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar HS 30587
9) Rock Island boxcar HS 75282
AMTRAK 90229, FORMER F40PH
LOCOMOTIVE ON TEXAS EAGLE JULY 14, 2010
- Here's a few night shots of rare Amtrak locomotive 90229, which used
to be an F40PH locomotive, but has been modified and was used recently
on Amtrak's Heartland Flyer train between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City.
It is commonly called a "cabbage" car, with prime mover removed (so it
is not a locomotive) and the resulting space used for baggage. Cab
controls were retained to allow for use as a cab car. Beech Grove did
the rebuilds. It was on its way to Chicago on Amtrak's Texas Eagle,
Number 22, which arrived in Little Rock, Arkansas at 11:13 p.m.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010, a few minutes early. The train left Union
Station on time at 11:40 p.m. but was stopped a few hundred feet from
the station just before it crossed the Baring Cross Bridge into North
Little Rock because the bridge signal was red. It turns out that the
drawbridge was down and locked, but the signal stayed red instead of
turning to green like it's supposed to. They finally got the situation
cleared up and the train finally left at 12:10 a.m. (Ken Ziegenbein
photos)
STREETCAR 411 NORTH LITTLE ROCK
AND TRAINS BRINKLEY, AR JULY 17, 2010
- Central Arkansas Transit's River Rail Streetcar 411 at the
Argenta Farmers Market in downtown North Little Rock, Arkansas on
Saturday morning, July 17, 2010 plus three trains in Brinkley, Arkansas
later in the day.
Included today:
1) RiverRail Streetcar 411
2) CSX 8734 and 7574
3) UP 3883 and 4229
4) MKT green hopper MKT 576
TWO ASHLEY DREW &
NORTHERN BOXCARS HOOKED TOGETHER-NEW SD40-2S-OTHERS LITTLE ROCK JULY
18, 2010
- Sunday, July 18, 2010 at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Included today is a rare sighting of two Ashley Drew & Northern
boxcars hooked together on a train. The ADN has been out of business
many years and these cars can still be seen around UP's system. Also
seen today in a consist were two newly renovated and painted SD40-2
locomotives, Nos. 1553 and 1556 and a green MKT gondola. It was a
bright, clear day with temperatures only in the upper 80s.
Also seen today:
1)
UP 7594, 7413, 8553, 4666, 7795, 8212, 9826, 638, 4596, 4832, UPY 583,
4470, 2285, 2420, 1555, 1553 (new),m 1556 (new), 1539, 1959, 2085,
8137, 4751
2) Ferromex 4695, 4639
3) GMTX 2149
4) HLCX 3801
5) Semi-truck graffiti on end of tank car
6) Smiling cow graffiti
7) Bright silver graffiti on CSX coil car
8) Rail Box string of boxcars
9) MKT 16513 green gondola
10) Two Ashley Drew & Northern boxcars together, HS 30578 and
30593
11) Columbus & Greenville boxcar HS 30902
12) Lincoln Grain Inc. hopper KWT 5167
13) BCRail boxcar BCOL 60334
14) Guitar player
15) UP Hi-Rail truck with track inspectors
16) Bright blue tank car with a star and 'N' symbol
A FROG, BUMBLE BEE AND TRAINS,
BRNKLEY, AR JULY 24,2010
- A bee, a frog and five trains today at Brinkley, Arkansas, Saturday,
July 24, 2010. Plus we had visitors from London, England in
town
filming a BBC documentary in nearby Cotton Plant, Arkansas about Sister
Rosetta Tharpe, a famous gospel singer of the 1930s and 40s (one of her
songs was named 'This Train'). They also took some video of the depot
in Brinkley and said the special will air on BBC America and PBS around
December 2010.
It was another hot and humid day in
Arkansas with temperature near 100, but moisture from a tropical
depression named Bonnie was moving into the state from the south, so
some rain was expected by later in the weekend.
Included today:
1) UP 4681, 4947, 4034, 8005
2) NS 7631, 2561, 2734
3) CSX 7611
4) Six puppies
5) One frog
6) One yellow and black bumble bee
7) BBC film crew
8) Farmers Market
9) Inside our display of a one-room house
VARIOUS FREIGHT CARS, OLD AND NEW
LOCOMOTIVES AND STORM CLOUDS NORTH LITTLE ROCK, JULY 26,2010
- No moving trains, but various interesting freight cars and new and
old locomotives I saw the past few days in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
These were taken July 21, 22 and 26, 2010. I also got a scary shot of
dark Mammatus storm clouds overhead the evening of Monday, July 26,
2010. These were part of the remnants of Tropical Storm Bonnie, which
moved onshore from the Gulf of Mexico over the weekend. I went by UP's
Jenks Shops and got photos of more newly rebuilt SD40-2s, and the usual
photo of stored UP 4141, the George Bush Library locomotive.
Included:
1) UP 4074, 3287, 4141, 1557, 1555, 8921, 1566, 1550, 1558, 1560, 1564,
1563, 1552
2) HLCX 3811
3) CSX 7800
4) Unpatched Cotton Belt SSW 9652
5) BNSF 9506 in Executive colors
6) Conrail/NS 8405
7) Boxcar NS 407279 with large cat graffiti
8) Old UP boxcar HPJX 60077 with the UP map
9) Dark Mammatus storm clouds
TWO MOVIES OF TRAINS, BRINKLEY,
ARKANSAS, JULY 31, 2010-
A hot day with only two trains at Brinkey, Arknasas today, Saturday,
July 31, 2010. I took HD digital movies of both trains from inside the
old ticket office of the depot museum, which used to serve the Cotton
Belt and Rock Island. Now UP operates the former Cotton Belt and also
the Rock Island tracks east of Brinkley (the Jonesboro and Brinkley
Subs).
Included today:
1) NS 8340, 6627
2) UP 8477, 2358
TRAINS, SMALL BOY AND STRANGE
FLOWERS, LITTLE ROCK AND BRINKLEY, AR JULY 31 AND AUGUST 1, 2010
- Sunday, August 1, 2010 at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas. It
was expected to be another hot day in Arkansas with highs 100-103.
Included today:
1) NS 9658
2) KCS 4604, 4535
3) CSX 7800
4) UP 8096, 9503, 2368, 8451, 2064, 5292, 4451, 1553, 1556, 2482, 2426,
8639
5) Movie of mixed freight headed by UP 8639
6) Seven NS boxcars in a row
7) Chessie Cat CSXT 173167 boxcar
8) Rock Island blue gondola EAMX 504
9) GNTX 295413 gondola with colorful graffiti
10) MKT 599 green hopper
11) UP yellow boxcar
12) Little boy seen through the bay window of the Brinkley, AR depot
museum on July 31
13) Shady glade a couple of hundred feet north of the Brinkley depot
with 'tube-type' orange flowers
UP 3985 ON A COLD JANUARY NIGHT
IN BERNIE, MO IN 2004
- To help us all chill out a little in this hot weather, I found this
picture I had posted on Railpictures.net in 2004, taken on a cold
winter's night. The photo is of Union Pacific steam engine
3985
parked in Bernie, Missouri on a very cold night, January 22, 2004. It
was 26 degrees and I was freezing my toenails off standing there with
the tripod. The special headed south into Arkansas the next day on the
Jonesboro Sub.
TRAINS IN
THE HEAT, AUGUST 2, 2010
- Here's a couple of shots I took in the heat on Monday, August 2, 2010
at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas. It was another 100-degree+ day.
Included:
1) UP 8433, 4317, 3974, 4078 (single unit on a long
intermodal without dpu)
2) Vivid sunset
ROCK ISLAND BIDDLE YARD AUCTION,
LITTLE ROCK, JULY 12, 1980
- TheTrustee of the bankrupt Rock Island Railroad held an auction at
Biddle Yard in Little Rock, Arkansas on July 12, 1980. They auctioned
off things like typewriters, adding machines, filing cabinets, desks
(including a few rolling-cover desks), chairs, a variety of shop tools
and station signs, two former Rock Island commuter cars, and a
stainless-steel Rock Island RPO car. I was there and took
some
slides of buildings and rolling stock including the Rock Island RPO
car. Also a photo of Missouri Pacific locomotives 1849 and
1893.
I recently found some of the slides and here they are.
Included:
1) Rock Island caboose
2) Rock Island RPO stainless steel car 96512
3) Old turntable and tracks
4) Rock Island boxcar RI 195594
5) Missouri Pacific locomotives 1849 and 1893
6) Rock Island gondola 1439
7) "Route of the Eagles" MoPac boxcar MP-X 3563
8) Line of Rock Island work cars
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS AUGUST 5,
6-2010
- Here's a few trains August 5 and 6, 2010 at Little Rock, Arkansas. I
also included a streetcar photo and scenes of the former MoPac Junction
Bridge, now a pedestrian trail. Included:
1) UP 7117, 5340, 4386, 8556, 4589, 4383, 4373, 3824, 5192, 4578, 9714,
5132, 2285, 5146, 4759
2) Skull graffiti
3) GMTX 2139
4) NS 9872, 7623
5) Rock Island blue and grey hoppers
6) Lumber loads
7) 2001 Census hopper DCLX 7449
8) Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar HS 30553
9) Little Rock Streetcar 412
10) Old hopper TCTX 118
11) New shiny Richardson PROX tank cars
12) The 'little rock' from which Little Rock got its name
13) Former Missouri Pacific Junction Bridge, now a pedestrian trail
14) Link to more graffiti shots
NEW SD59M AND LONG LINE OF OLD
SD40-2 LOCOMOITVES LITTLE ROCK AUGUST 7, 2010
- Saturday, August 7, 2010 at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas
(nope...I didn't go to Brinkley today like I sometimes do). Of special
interest today was a light engine move of old SD40-2 locomotives
consisting of lots of former SP units and UP units. I was told they are
on their way to interchange with the Canadian National Railroad in
Memphis, so I guess they won't be part of UP's rebuilding program with
SD40-2s. I have included a movie of part of this train, but I missed
the first few locomotives in the movie (there were 18 locomotives in
the light move).
Also today, there was an 8-locomotive
consist on a LONG mixed freight with one of the locomotives being a
newly painted and rebuilt SD59M, UP 9905. These are rebuilds of older
SD60M's done at EMD with painting at UP's Jenks Shops in North Little
Rock.
Included today:
1) UP 6477, 5820, 2089, 1974,
9675, 8342, 4092, 9752, 5023, 7346, 5046, 7625, 2420, 4559, 3949, 2753,
2779, 2762, 2754, 2768, 2744, 9626, 9645, 9688, 9905, 3842, 4757, 4618
2) UP/SP 2047, 2752, 2769, 2756, 2775, 2777, 2758, 2749, 2686, 2696
3) UP/RIO GRANDE 1900
4) NS 9387, 9946
5) CN 5666
6) KCS Belle 4067
7) SP 8674
8) Providence & Worcester Railroad boxcar YS 5066
9) WSSX 2177 with blue and purple graffiti
10) Pipe loads
11) New TILX tank cars
ELEVEN TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, AR,
AUGUST 8, 2010
- Sunday, August 8, 2010 at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas. We
had a rare three-train meet today (one being a light engine
move)
plus a couple of two-train meets. I had a total of 11 trains in about 2
1/2 hours, which is still not as many as two years ago, but then again
the trains are longer, many with dpu power at the ends. There
was
one 'rainbow' train with black NS, blue CSX and red CN units next to
blue containers on the next track.
Included today:
1) Illinois Central Gulf hi-cube boxcar ICG 680056
2) UP hi-cube UP 980091
3) Slot/dump train
4) Coal hoppers with BNBX markings
5) New white TILX tank cars
6) Smiling, toothy man graffiti
7) Norfolk and Western hi-cube NW 868315
8) Missouri Pacific 'buzzsaw' emblem
9) UP 5133, 4842, 6569, 7386, 2482, 9775, 4700, 2269, 7660, 1556, 1553,
5786, 9651
10) NS 9878, 9872, 9347, 6553
11) CN 5666
12) CSX 4704
13) Rock Island blue hoppers NAHX 65705, 65543
14) Thunderstorm and Streetcar
RUSSELLVILLE, ARKANSAS TRAINS,
AUGUST 13, 2010 - Three trains at Russellville,
Arkansas on Friday, August 13, 2010.
Included today:
1) UP 2061, 7848
2) GMTX 2158
3) Big black beetle or roach
4) Large scale train inside Stoby's Restaurant
DARDANELLE & RUSSELLVILLE
RR TRACKS AND CROSSING POSTS, AUGUST 13, 2010
- Here's some photos of Dardanelle & Russellville RR tracks
through
Russellville, Arkansas on Friday, August 13, 2010. NO trains. Included
are 70+ year old yellow cement railroad crossing poles, which looked
sharp with the green background of the area.
NEW
LOCOMOTIVES NORTH LITTLE ROCK, INCLUDING THE SD59MX, AUGUST 17, 2010
- Here is my photo update of Union Pacific's overhauled SD40-2's and
SD59MX locomotives (former SD60M's) at Jenks Shops and yard area in
North Little Rock, Arkansas on Tuesday, August 17, 2010. This was the
second day in a row that temperatures didn't reach 100 degrees, only
getting to 95. I also made my twice-monthly visit to the Union Pacific
Company Store at the Jenks facility to get my bag of freshly popped
popcorn, the best popcorn in the state.
VARIOUS TRAINS AND CARS
MID-AUGUST 2010 LITTLE ROCK
- Here are various rolling stock/locomotive photos in Arkansas taken on
various days in mid-August 2010 in the Little Rock area, sort of a
'Best Of' post.
Included:
1) Unpatched Cotton Belt locomotive 9642
2) CEFX 849 (former Montana Rail Link?)
3) Conrail/NS 6758
4) KCS Belle 4733, NS 9487, UP 2961, CEFX 849 all on one train
5) CSXT 124264 hi-cube boxcar with vivid graffiti, including a
blue-eyed skull
6) Very good condition, dark green Greenville & Northern boxcar
HS 30048. Only minimal graffiti on it
7) FOUR MKT green hoppers on one train (not adjacent): MKT 530, 502,
587 & 544
8) New UP hoppers, one being UP 218188
9) New UP hopper MP 706853
10)
New Granite Mountain Quarry hoppers GMQX 03----- (couldn't get the
whole numbers since they were past me before I noticed them)
UP SPEICAL ONE-CAR TRAIN, NORTH
LITTLE ROCK, AUGUST 20, 2010
- A Union Pacific one-car special crossing the Pershing Blvd overpass
in North Little Rock, Arkansas, Friday, August 20, 2010 at 6:55
p.m. It was led by UP 8054 and was pulling the "North
Platte," a
business car. I was told it would spend the night in North Little Rock
and head to Houston, Texas August 21, carrying a UP Vice President.
Train symbol was SKCNL-20, Kansas City to North Little Rock. (Thanks to
John C. Jones for the heads-up)
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS, SUNDAY AUGUST
22, 2010
- Sunday, August 22, 2010 at Union Station in Little Rock. My usual
fallen-flag freight cars, plus a string of UP coil cars and a healthy
number of trains. Sunny and somewhat cooler day with temperatures only
in the upper 80s during the morning. Also one train on August
20.
Included today:
1) UP 8227, 3870, 8476, 6451, 2058, 2074, 9456, 7184, 6530, 4731, 4065,
3802, 6757, 5912
2) CSX 7328, 8756
3) NS 9919, 9202
4) Moon closeup going into a cloud near sunset August 20
5) IOI Group Loders Croklaan tankcar
6) CSXT 180679 Chessie hi-cube
7) Clean KCS 13036 and 125507 boxcars
8) Broken fence next to Amtrak siding
9) Greenville & Northern boxcar HS 30050
10) CEFX 13860 hopper with heads graffiti
11) CEFX 13888 hopper with faces
12) Clean and newly painted NS 657460 hi-cube
13) GPFX 10390 Cerestar hopper
14) ETTX 850914 autorack with dragon
15) TILX 192266 Global ethanol tankcar
16) Line of UP coil cars
17) UP 210020 coil car
18) LW 70042 exposed coils
RINGLING BROS.-BARNUM AND BAILEY
CIRCUS TRAIN MOVIE AUGUST 24, 2010
- Here's a movie of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus
train northbound through Jacksonville, Arkansas on Tuesday, August 24,
2010 at 11:56 a.m. The train was on its way from Texas to East St.
Louis, Missouri. Lead locomotive was blue CSXT/Conrail 7331. The movie
camera was on a tripod while I took still photos and shows the entire
59-car train. Excuse the car door in the first part of the movie since
I had to scramble to set up.
CIRCUS TRAIN PHOTOS LITTLE ROCK
AND JACKSONVILLE ARKANSAS AUGUST 24, 2010
-Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus train, the Red Unit, spent
the morning in North Little Rock, Arkansas and had it's 1,000 mile
inspection in UP's yard. It arrived in town at 3:30 a.m. last night and
didn't leave until 11 a.m. Here are some photos I got of the train in
the Union Pacific yards (riding with UP photographer John C. Jones) and
in Jacksonville, Arkansas, about 10 miles north. There's also a link to
a Youtube movie I got of the whole train passing under the Main Street
bridge in Jacksonville. It was a beautiful clear blue sky and cooler
day, which matched the train's lead locomotive, blue CSXT/Conrail 7331
to a tee. Thanks to John C. Jones for the heads up regarding where the
train was parked.
Also photographed today: UP SD40-2's
1553 and 1556 passing the circus train and UP 6655. and UP 6047 in
Jacksonville, AR leading a loaded coal train northbound.
TRAINS, STREETCARS, CLOUDS AND
SUNSET, AUGUST 25 AND 26, 2010 - Some trains and
streetcars and sunset/night scenes August 25 and 26, 2010 at Little
Rock, Arkansas. Included:
1) Streetcar viewed in rear-view mirror in Little Rock's River Market
2) NS 9576
3) LRWN 1542, 1544
4) UP 5982, 8100, 8097, 8644, 1554, 1556, 4098
5) CN 2204, 5713
6) Santa Fe/SMIX gondola 9528 (sometimes I've seen these called
woodchip cars)
7) Clouds and sunset scenes
8) Streetcar in Little Rock
LATE TEXAS EAGLE, NO..21, LITTLE
ROCK, OTHER TRAINS LITTLE ROCK/BRINKLEY AUGUST 28, 2010
-Included among the trains today in both Little Rock and Brinkley,
Arkansas is a late Amtrak Texas Eagle arriving in Little Rock. Also,
there were 5 trains today in Brinkley including one headed by a KCS
Belle unit.
Included today:
LITTLE ROCK:
1) Amtrak 37 and Texas Eagle 21
2) UP 8144, 8197, 4859
BRINKLEY (5 trains today in less than 2 hours):
3) UP 4323, 4875, 5043, 9705, 7616, 9940, 1081, 8419, 4477, 4518, 8407
4) CSX 7353
5) NS 2772
6) KCS BELLE 4046
RSSX 7, OTHER TRAINS LITTLE ROCK,
AUGUST 30, 2010
- Here's less than 20 photos of various trains on Monday, August 30,
2010 at Little Rock and North Little Rock, Arkansas. Of
special
interest is locomotive RSSX 7, an SW1500, in North Little Rock.
Included today:
1) UP 8004, 5117, 9589, 9417
2) CSX 8589
3) RSSX 7, SW1500
4) UP/SSW 1963
5) CSXT hi-cube with Chessie 160807
6) UP hi-cube 980097
ARTSY TRAIN PHOTOS, SEPTEMBER 5,
2010
- Here's a few photos I did Sunday, September 5, 2010 at Little
Rock. I tried out a few different things. It was a light day,
train-wise.I'll return to my regular programming next time.
Included today:
1) UP/Rio Grande 1900
2) UP 1553 and 1556
3) UP/SP 2047.
4) Train-On-Mars
5) A curvy ride
6) Red crape myrtles with dark background.
UNPATCHED SP AND SSW UNITS-OTHER
TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, SEPTEMBER 10, 2010
- One unpatched Cotton Belt (SSW 9652) and one unpatched SP (SP 8681)
locomotive and other trains today, Friday, September 10, 2010 at Little
Rock, Arkansas. It was a hot, sunny day - temperature in the lower 90s.
Included today:
1) Pulaski County Coroner van on my way to train station
2) Unpatched SP 8681...BUT with lots of graffiti
3) UP 9670, 4878, 3209, 4732, 4933, 3947, 4404, 3953, 8476
4) Unpatched Cotton Belt SSW 9652
5) Un-graffitied boxcar SSW 6287
6) MP 37416 boxcar with graffiti
7) CNW 157023 boxcar with graffiti
8) Larinburg and Southern boxcar ATW 75030, built 5-59
9) Southern 530275 boxcar
10) New UP 92054 hopper, built 8-2010
11) MKT 4459 grey hopper with large M K T
12) MKT 4471 grey hopper
13) MKT 4111 grey hopper
14) CN 156250 gondola
15) Autorack TTGX 159381
16) Autorack TTGX 997025
17) Autorack TTGX 882528 with graffiti
18) UP track workers
19) CITX 200161 grey hopper
20) SP/Golden West boxcar 698504 with graffiti
21) GMRC 23020 boxcar with graffiti
22) WCRX 3113 gondola with pipes
23) Red, white and blue tankcars.
DARK CLOUDS, RAIN, SUNSHINE,
TRAINS-BRINKLEY, AR, SEPTEMBER 11, 2010
- Busy day at the Brinkley, Arkansas Depot Museum on Saturday,
September 11, 2010 - 9 trains in 6 hours between 7:25 a.m. and 1:42
p.m., 8 on the Jonesboro Sub and 1 on the Brinkley Sub. A
cool front passed through the area during the morning with
dark
clouds and rain, keeping temperatures in the 70s for most of the day.
Skies cleared to a vivid blue in the afternoon. I counted 9
UP
locomotives, 7 CSX locomotives and 3 NS locomotives.
Included today:
1) UP 9380, 5017, 7841, 4539, 5171, 5004, 8170, 7269, 6791
2) CSX 8437, 4842, 4506, 8756, 8854, 9027, 586
3) NS 7534, 7523, 6583
4) Dark clouds, rain
5) CSXT 180700 Chessie boxcar
6) Grasshopper on window closeup
7) US flag at half-staff honoring the victims of 9/11
8) SOO 613003 boxcar (not sure of the number)
9) 'See-Thur' autorack
10) Red Spider Lilies at home
MOPAC HERITAGE 1982-TRAINS-LITTLE
ROCK, AR, SEPTEMBER 12, 2010
- Sunday, September 12, 2010 . Of special interest today was MoPac
Heritage unit UP 1982 on the Pine Bluff local, YNL75. There were lots
of other trains as well, 8 in a little over 2 hours between 9:30 and
11:47 a.m. Traffic seems to be picking up.
Included today:
1) UP
1982, 8600, 4528 (one of the first 3 UP locomotives to have the US Flag
decal), 9480, 1553, 1556, 4885, 4991, 3785, 5127, 2460, 2285, 4244,
6695, 5790
2) NS 9749, 9668, 9210
3) Silver shiny hoppers, including TILX 538037
4) SP boxcar with SP Sunset emblem
5) Ballast dump cars, one being SPMW 5108
6) Helicopter
7) Butterfly at the station
8) New white tank cars, one being TILX 110774
PINE BLUFF LOCAL IN
EMERGENCY-OTHER TRAINS AND FREIGHT CARS LITTLE ROCK, SEPTEMBER 14, 2010
- A few trains at Little Rock on Tuesday, September 14, 2010. The daily
southbound YNL75 arrived at 11:26 a.m. This train had 136 cars today
and went into emergency as it was passing Union Station. A crew member
had to walk the entire length of the train to determine if there was a
broken air hose or other problem with a car. He walked all the way
across the Baring Cross bridge over the Arkansas River before
reaching the end of the train. The train was 8,298 feet long!
A
UP truck picked him up on the north side of the river and brought him
back to the head end, which was around the corner at the south part of
Union Station (called South UD by crew and dispatchers). It turns out
that the problem was on one of the middle locomotives of the train,
which had a brake problem that set the train in emergency. It took a
little over an hour to get the train running again.
Included today:
1) UP 2426, 351, 5267, 5270, 5151, 3867, 1556, 1553
2) HLCX 1029
3) GMTX 2137
4) CN 5704
5) CEFX 1014
6) NS 7681, 9061
7) Angelina & Neches River Railroad boxcar ANR 613
8) UP 8885 hopper with graffiti
9) FBOX 502170 boxcar with Face
10) EEC 245 boxcar
11) Seven yellow former CNW hoppers in a row, two being RCLX 169169 and
169206
12) TBOX 666100 boxcar
13) C&O-Chessie yellow hopper 604992
14) Brand new GATX 9136 hopper built this month, September 2010
15) FSRR 107--- boxcar
16) FSRR 106021 boxcar with graffiti
17) FXE 873787 boxcar
18) SSW 70439 hopper with graffiti
(note...you can't get photos of many freight cars without graffiti
these days)
UP 7400 SHRINK-WRAPPED IN NORTH
LITTLE ROCK, SEPTEMBER 15, 2010
- I saw this shrink-wrapped locomotive, UP 7400, in North Little Rock
this morning. I have no idea why it's shrink-wrapped or where it is
going. UP 7400 has been on the roster for awhile. According to
Railpictures.net, it's a GE ES44AC. I guess we'll all know
what
the mystery is eventually.
TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, "ONION
PACIFIC" LOCO, SEPTEMBER 25, 2010- Here are some
train photos on September 25 and 23, 2010 at Little Rock, Arkansas.
Included:
1) UP 3953 ('Onion Pacific), UP 2441, 8255, 8163, 2460, 8583, 8157,
6928, 6659, 2056
2) NS
3) NS boxcar 472479
ADN BOXCAR-RSSX 2651 SWITCHER
LITTLE ROCK, SEPTEMBER 26, 2010
- Cool temperatures and trains in Little Rock, AR, Sunday,
September 26, 2010. There was an Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar
with
ADN markings, not the usual HS. Plus locomotive RSSX 2651.
Included today:
1) RSSX 2651
2) UP 4141 (at Jenks Shops), 2406, 6014, 8397, 3808
3) HLCX 3813, 3806
4) Ashley Drew & Northern ADN 9617
UP 1982 AND A HAZMAT TRAIN-NORTH
LITTLE ROCK AR SEPTEMBER 28, 2010
- UP Heritage 1982, the Missouri Pacific unit, heads a haz-mat train
used for training for law enforcement and fire departments, North
Little Rock, Arkansas, September 28, 2010. Thanks to John Hodkin, Jr.
and John Jones for the heads up. This train was off Bethany Road.
DEDICATED TO MY LATE WIFE SARAH,
WHO DIED SEPTEMBER 29, 2010. SOME TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, OCTOBER 3, 2010
- This web page is dedicated to my wife Sarah, who died September 29.
We were married for 37 years just two weeks ago. For years she put up
with my railfanning and would want me to continue my hobby. I took
these train pictures during a lull in the hectic activities associated
with the death of a loved one. Going to the station in Little Rock
during this stressful time helped me keep my sanity, if for
only
a short time. Thanks to my fellow railfans in this area and others who
were always there to help and support me. Friends are special in times
like these, including those on Railspot and other mailing lists. (Ken
Ziegenbein)
These photos were taken Friday October 1 and Sunday Oct 3, 2010.
Included:
1) UP 2285, 9618, 2313, 4405, 4141, 5022, 6809, 6366, 1553, 2789
2) Rock Island blue hopper NAHX 65546
3) BKTY 121483 hopper with KATY trademark
4) Little girl
5) UP 97061 yellow gondola
6) MoPac clean boxcars with buzzsaw, FSR 253421, 253400
7) Railfans
8) Butterfly
UP 7400, THE KOMEN BREAST CANCER
PINK RIBBON LOCOMOITVE, LITTLE ROCK, OCTOBER 8, 2010
- UP 7400, the Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Ribbon locomotive,
passing Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas, Friday, October 8, 2010
at 1:41 p.m. The locomotive was heading the YPB71 local from Pine Bluff
to North Little Rock. It had 80 mixed freight cars in tow. The
inscription on the top of the locomotive says: "Proud Recipient of the
Komen Outstanding Volunteer Group Award"
VARIOUS TRAINS LITTLE
ROCK-JAPANESE ZERO AIRCRAFT OVERHEAD FOR AIR SHOW-OCTOBER 8, 2010
- Friday, October 8, 2010 was an interesting day at Union Station in
Little Ro
Included today:
1) CSX 545
2) UP 4538, 7400 ('Pink Ribbon')
3) LORAM RG 306 heading a grinding train
4) Two Alberta blue hoppers without graffiti, ALPX 628243
5) CSXT 1722317 Chessie boxcar
6) CSXT 180179 hi-cube boxcar
7) Three small planes flying in formation, each with large red dot
TRAINS IN LITTLE ROCK, OCTOBER
10, 2010 - A few Sunday trains at Little Rock,
AR today, October 10, 2010. Included:
1) UP 7400 (Pine Ribbon), 4532, 8468, 4297, 4329, 5494, 5479,
4720
2) UP/RioGrande 1900
3) LLPX 2273 (GMTX?)
4) GMTX 2149
5) CNW 752770, ex Rock Island hopper
6) HS 75038 boxcar
7) CSS 2111 Southshore Freight coil car
8) Little Rock firetruck
9) EAMX 513 and 506, ex Rock Island blue gondolas
UP
1982-STREETCAR-OTHER TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, OCTOBER 11, 2010
- UP 1982 and other trains at Union Station in Little Rock, Monday,
October 11, 2010. I knew UP 1982 had been in Poplar Bluff, Missouri on
display and didn't expect it to be here so quickly, but it was on the
YNL75 Pine Bluff local. It was the leader.
Included today:
1) UP 6016, 2426, 2482, 2285, 1982, 4802
2) CSX 8122
3) Pinkish hopper
4) Yellow and red leaves
5) Yellow, green and red signals
6) Scrubbing Bubbles graffiti
7) Central Arkansas Transit River Rail Streetcar 411 downtown
LITTLE ROCK & WESTERN
-WEST OF LITTLE ROCK OCTOBER 12,2010
- Little Rock & Western crossing Winston-Faulkner Road in
Little
Rock on Tuesday, October 12, 2010. This is just off Cantrell Road and
is just a mile or so west of Union Station. Also, some green and red
wet leaves - it rained a half inch today!! I also included a picture of
River Rail Streetcar 408 after a downpour.
UP 7400 ON DISPLAY NORTH LITTLE
ROCK, OCTOBER 13, 2010
- UP 7400, the Pink Ribbon unit, on display at UP's offices in North
Little Rock, AR October 13, 2010. There was a large celebration with
pink hardhats given out about 2 hours before I arrived, but due to a
'must do' CPA appointment, I couldn't be there for the event. However,
here are some photos later. It will continue to be on display through
Friday afternoon, October 15, then be put on a regular freight Friday
night or Saturday. I also got another photo of a migrating
Monarch butterfly at home. These Monarch butterflies are floating down
from the sky in my neighborhood like butterfly-colored snowflakes. They
are on their way to Mexico from Canada on their annual migration.
TRAINS, A GRASSHOPPER AND A HAWK,
PLUS RACE FOR THE CURE PHOTO OCTOBER 15-16, 2010
- Trains in Brinkley and Little Rock, Arkansas October 15 and 16 plus a
scene of the Race for the Cure in Little Rock October 16 and a
grasshopper and hawk.
Included:
1) UP 7400, 4563, 8086, 7448, 4141, 1557, 1562. 1565, 1596, 1580, 1581,
1552, 1569, 1574, 1555, 6938 (display DD40X)
2) Race for the Cure photo
3) Grasshopper
4) Hawk
TRAINS AND 8-YEAR OLD SOCCER GAME
LITTLE ROCK PHOTOS OCTOBER 23, 2010
- Went by Union Station briefly today, Saturday October 23, 2010 and
got two trains, including the 8-locomotive YNL75 Pine Bluff local. Shot
some pictures of a soccer game with 8-year olds in the morning.
Included today: UP 7911, 9366, 8652, 9618, 9790, 9640, GMTX 2116, UP
1929, 4747, 8599. Plus a soccer team picture.
TRAINS-LITTLE ROCK, AR OCTOBER
24, 2010
- We had a few trains this morning, Sunday October 24, 2010, at the
station in Little Rock. It was mostly cloudy and our area was under a
tornado warning as I was typing this at 5:20 pm. I went outside to get
some storm pictures, but the rain was so heavy I couldn't see any
rotating clouds.
Included today:
1) CSX 7765, 7755
2) UP 6877, 6490, 7855, 8211
3) NS 8349
4) "Our" hawk overhead
TRAINS,SPOOL LOADS LITTLE ROCK
OCTOBER 26, 2010 -A few trains today at the
station in Little Rock, AR, including:
1) UP display caboose 25117
2) UP 7834, 4720, 8435, 7856, 8158, 1964, 2067
3)Track labeled "Nortrak"
4) Large spools of green cable - T.N.S. 213.6904000
TRAINS, A HAWK AND MOON, LITTLE
ROCK, OCTOBER 28, 2010
- Only one train today as I was out of time. I tried a new color
setting, but I think it's too saturated. I also included a shot of our
station hawk overhead and my cat Tigger. Locomotives today: UP 2420 and
UP 2426.
TRAINS, STREETCARS AND HALLOWEEN
COSTUME, OCTOBER 30, 2010
- Trains and streetcars in Little Rock and North Little Rock, Saturday
October 30, 2010. Also a photo of a Halloween-costumed Flying Saucer
waitress.Caught a KCS train.
Included today:
1) Little Red Riding Hood costumed Flying Saucer waitress
2) KCS 3938, 4610
3) UP 9663, 9501, 8669, 9423, 4248, 4304, 4511
4) NS 2665, 2676, 8313
5) CSXT 248130 gondola Family Lines System SCL/LN Georgia Clinchfield
West Point Route
6) New Tate-Lyle tankcars
7) MKT 550 green hopper
8) Skull graffiti (Happy Halloween!!)
9) HS 30822 boxcar Berlin Mills Railway
10) Central Arkansas Transit streetcar 409
TRAINS, RARE FREIGHT CARS, FWWR
2009-OTHERS LITTLE ROCK, OCTOBER 31, 2010
- Some rare freight cars and locomotives today, Halloween October 31,
2010, at Union Station in Little Rock and in North Little Rock,
including FWWR 2009, UP/Rio Grande 1370.
Included today:
1) FWWR 2009 Chisholm Trail
2) UP/SP 1376, 1131
3) UP/Rio Grande 1900,1370
4) CSX 7396, 5412
5) UPY 541
6) UP 9575, 4299, 9501, 2056, 6761, 7324
7) NS 7554, 2619
8) GATX 209802 new tankcar
9) UP 563123 yellow boxcar
10) MKT 550, green hopper
11) Small load of pipes
12) C&O 604992 yellow Chessie System short hopper with cat
13) D&RGW gondola
14) Streetcar on Maple Street North Little Rock
15) Pigeons chased by hawk
16) BCOL 60835 dark green boxcar
17) HS 717029 blue Rock Island boxcar
18) Colorful boxcars in a row
19) Bright blue boxcar CRLE 6442
20) AEX 9726 high hopper
ROCK ISLAND BRIDGE NEXT TO
CLINTON LIBRARY, TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, NOVEMBER 5, 2010
- A couple of trains today including a UP inspection vehicle at Union
Station, plus a couple of pictures of the abandoned Rock Island-Choctaw
bridge and Choctaw depot in Little Rock, AR, which are now part of the
Clinton Presidential Center and Park (Clinton Library). Friday,
November 5, 2010.
Included today:
1) Rock Island bridge on the former Rock Island's Sunbelt line in
Little Rock
2) UP 6591, dpu
3) Trackwork at Union Station
4) Bird
5) Sun-backlit red leaf
6) UP inspection car EC-4
NIGHT STREETCARS LITTLE ROCK,
UNION STATION TRAINS NOVEMBER 6, 2010
- Here are a few Little Rock streetcar photos taken with a tripod at
night, Saturday November 6, 2010 and a couple of trains taken Sunday
morning, November 7. Both days were fun days for me. On Sunday
afternoon, I went to the Broadway play Wicked with good
friends.
It was a great show and had superb effects. This is part of the
official traveling Broadway series and had sold out the first 4 days,
including Sunday.
Included:
1) Streetcars 408 and 409 at night
2) Ladies from Chicago at streetcar stop
3) Night shot of Capitol Hotel
4) UP 9503, 5932, 6503, 5910
5) Unpatched Cotton Belt 9642
6) UP/SP 6385
TRAINS AND FALL COLORS, BRINKLEY,
ARKANSAS, NOVEMBER 13, 2010
- Here are a few trains at Brinkley, Arkansas Saturday, November 13,
2010, including UPY 2613 genset switcher. It was a dark, drizzly day.
Included today:
1) UP 8561, 5095, 8004, 4211, 4870, 2162, 7423, 7405, 3986 (one digit
off from the famous UP steamer 3985)
2) UPY 2613 switcher
3) KCS 4610
4) NS 9157
5) Coil load
6) GNWR 7242 unknown old boxcar
7) GASP graffiti
8) INSTANT CHAOS graffiti
9) Christmas decorations at the Brinkley depot
10) Fall colors at station
ONE TRAIN LITTLE ROCK, SUNDAY
NOVEMBER 14, 2010 - TRAIN DERAILED MINUTES AFTER PASSING STATION
- Here's a photo of one train today, Sunday November 14, 2010 in Little
Rock, AR. This train derailed a few cars a few minutes later, about a
mile west of here at Little Rock Junction, which switches trains south
toward Pine Bluff. You can see the derailed cars on the newspaper site
at this link:
http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2010/nov/14/train-derails-near-central-high-school-lr/
Included today:
1) UP 2074
2) UP/Rio Grande 1900
3) KCS 7000
4) AEX 12493, former Rock Island hopper?
5) Lonely cloud
6) Vivid red leaf
AMTRAK 21-SOUTHBOUND TEXAS
EAGLE-FOG BART JENNINGS ON BOARD, THURSDAY NOVEMBER 18, 2010 3 A.M.
- Night photos of Amtrak's southbound Texas Eagle, No. 21, in the fog
at Little Rock, Arkansas, around 3 a.m. Thursday, November 18,
2010. Arkansas Railroad Club member Bart Jennings and his
wife
Sarah were on the train and Bart got off to greet me. At 630pm the
night before, I attended a wine tasting party with close friends at
Ashley's fine dining restaurant in the Capitol Hotel in Little Rock.
The owners of two Napa Valley (California) wineries were there to tell
us what wines we were using with each small course. It was fascinating.
After the wine dinner, I took a 3 hour nap and headed for the Amtrak
station. How's that for a night of different activities?
FALLEN FLAG FREIGHT CARS-DME
LOCOMOTIVE-NORTH LITTLE ROCK, NOVEMBER 18, 2010
- Seen today, Thursday November 18, 2010, in North Little Rock,
Arkansas:
1) SD40-2, DME (Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern) 6086
2) Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar ALM 9572.
3) Maine Central boxcar MEC 20028.
4) "Caution-Trolley Route" sign North Little Rock
5) Fall leaves around town.
EIGHT
TRAINS IN 2 HOURS IN BRINKLEY, AR NOVEMBER 21, 2010 - One
train at Little Rock and lots more in Brinkley, Arkansas on Sunday,
November 21, 2010. Eight trains passed the Brinkley depot in 2 hours
and 5 minutes, between 11:44 a.m. and 1:49 p.m. with a ninth
train getting ready to leave from the Brinkley siding. Definitely a
good day for trains in Brinkley, which is located halfway between
Little Rock and Memphis off I-40 in eastern Arkansas. I was in Brinkley
on a Sunday to help with a special Christmas Homes Tour brochure the
Central Delta Historical Society is having in December. This historical
society runs the Brinkley Depot Museum. I've also included some bright
Fall colors along an abandoned rail line in North Little Rock.
Included today:
1) Foggy Little Rock skyline
2) UP 5080, 5702, 5817, 3460, 9383, 4091, 9391, 4265, 4534
3) BNSF 7250
4) NS 9960, 8300, 6660, 8822, 8689
5) UP/SP 6212
6) MKT 16483 red gondola
7) Fall colors on abandoned rail line North Little Rock
UP 2001-OLYMPIC UNIT-NEAR
FRANKLIN, TEXAS THANKSGIVING DAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2010
- A nice surprise, totally unexpected, was UP 2001, one of the Salt
Lake City Olympic units, heading an eastbound train, 7 miles west of
Franklin, Texas on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 2010. I was on my way
home from a family Thanksgiving reunion near Burton, Texas and was
traveling east on US Highway 79 when I saw this mixed freight slowly
moving to the east to the right of the highway. As I approached the
front of the train, I noticed the lead unit was not up yellow, then saw
it was the 2001. I drove up to the next crossing and waited to get this
picture. Also included is a Canadian American Railroad boxcar LW
1097. When I left Burton at 1 p.m. it was 82 degrees. By the
time
I had passed Hearne, Texas (a half hour away) it was 47 and rain.
TRAINS AND UNION STATION WITH
FALL COLORS LITTLE ROCK, NOVEMBER 28, 2010 -
Sunny, blue skies and 3 trains today, Sunday November 28,
2010, passing Union Station in Little Rock, AR.
Included today:
1) Union Station with Fall leaves
2) UP 2426, 2067
3) Utility poles on 2 flatcars
4) Rio Grande/UP 1900
5) IC/CN blue 2461
6) LRS 7021 new hi-cube boxcar
7) Illinois Central Mills AEX 7517 hopper
UP 7400-PINK RIBBON UNIT-OTHER
TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, AR, NOVEMBER 30, 2010
- Nine trains passed Little Rock's Union Station today, November 30,
2010, eight of which passed in 2 hours and 7 minutes between 2:39 p.m.
and 4:46 p.m. Welding work was being done on the Baring Cross bridge
before 2:39 p.m. which tied up these trains, so they all passed in a 2
hour window. Included today was UP 7400, the Pink Ribbon locomotive,
which came as the sun was setting. It was the trailing DPU unit on the
Long Beach, California to Marion, Arkansas intermodal, the ILBMN-28.
Included today:
1) UP 9752, 4263, 5916, 6366, 9711, 7669, 8359, 5547, 3855, 4061, 9460,
3812, 3987, 7697, 7400
2) BNSF 4915, 5446
3) Four SP boxcars in a row
4) Chessie boxcar CSXT 1729889
5) Raccoon graffiti
6) MOW equipment
7) MKT 14025 coilcar
8) Train of baretables
9) New GATX hoppers
10) Streetcar from inside Ashley's Restaurant in the Capitol Hotel
11) Car or truck frames
TRAINS IN LITTLE ROCK AT NEW
LOCATION PLUS STREETCARS, DECEMBER 4, 2010
- A couple of photos of trains in Little Rock from a location I hadn't
been to before - close to I-630 where 7th Street goes under both UP
mains and at the west end of 6th Street where you can get relatively
close to Main 1. This location doesn't have good lighting
unless
you wait until mid afternoon, but I was there at lunchtime just to give
it a try. I also have two train passing Union Station.
Included:
1) UP 7674, 8447, 9323, 4643
2) CSX 8354
3) Two Little Rock streetcars blocked by Jingle Bell Run
TRAINS, ELEPHANTS AND HORSEBACK
RIDERS LITTLE ROCK, DECEMBER 5, 2010
- Trains, elephants and horseback riders in Little Rock and North
Little Rock, Arkansas on Sunday, December 5, 2010. It was below
freezing and windy.
Included today:
1) UP 7692, 9575
2) NS 8769
3) MKT 530 green hopper
4) QTT 1341, 4-truck flatcar
5) TTPX 804536 load of pipes
6) Ringling Bros-Barnum & Bailey elephants at the circus
7) Horseback riders on 4-lane Main Street in North Little Rock
VARIOUS LOCOMOTIVES, TRAINS
LITTLE ROCK DECEMBER 11, 2010 - One train in
Little Rock and several different locomotives in North Little Rock on
Saturday, December 11, 2010.
Included today:
1) UP 7119, 3781
2) GMTX 9053, 2106
3) UP/SP 2671, 2676
4) CN 2560
5) Ferromex 4663
6) UP/Rio Grande 1370
7) Plaque and Christmas decoration on North Little Rock Terminal sign
CHRISTMAS STREETCARS LITTLE ROCK,
DECEMBER 11, 2010
- Here's a couple of pictures of Central Arkansas Transit's streetcars
decorated with Christmas lights and animals in downtown Little Rock,
Arkansas Saturday night, December 11, 2010. A major Arctic
cold
front had pushed through the area during the afternoon and it was COLD
when I took these photos. Winds were officially gusting at 35-40 mph
with temperature in the upper 30s and wind chill in the mid 20s.
Temperatures were expected to plunge into the teens and 20s
overnight with wind chill temperature at Little Rock by
morning
around 10 degrees. Definitely frostbite danger.
UP 8444 TODAY AND IN 2007 PLUS
BUSH 4141 LITTLE ROCK, DECEMBER 17, 2010
- A couple of trains today(Friday, December 17, 2010)
included
one headed by UP 8444, one of the locomotives that was part of the
Heritage Locomotive Roundup in Salt Lake City in 2007. Also two TFM
units in KCS grey/yellow and UP Bush Library unit 4141 at Jenks (yep,
it's still there).
Included today:
1) Unpatched SP 9755 back at North Little Rock
2) KCS Belle 4121
3) TFM 1658, 1636
4) UP 4455, 1574, 1567, 8444, 5536, 4141
5) All of UP Heritage units in Salt Lake City, Utah, June 30, 2007
(1982, 1983, 1988, 1989, 1995, 1996, 8444)
FULL STREETCAR AFTER TRANS
SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA CONCERT NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR DECEMBER 18, 2010
- Some photos of a full streetcar in North Little Rock, Arkansas after
a concert this evening. I went with good friends to see the
Trans
Siberian Orchestra Christmas Program at Verizon Arena in North Little
Rock today, Saturday, December 18, 2010. There were lots of light
effects, theater smoke and pyrotechnics (fires) throughout
the
show. The show was fascinating. I managed to get a couple of shots.
Also included some photos of the crowd getting on a streetcar after the
show. One streetcar can hold 80 people (40 seated and 40 standing) and
it was standing room only.
UP 1995, MULTICOLOR BNSF TRAIN.
LITTLE ROCK, DECEMBER 23, 2010
- Here's a couple of trains today, Thursday December 23,
2010, in
Little Rock and North Little Rock, including UP 1995, the CNW heritage
unit, plus a 'rainbow of colors' BNSF trackage rights train.
Included today:
1) UP 1995, 9584, 9694, 6551, 7163, 8529
2) BN 8181
3) Ferromex 4610
4) BNSF 4822
5) Streetcar 412
6) New SXTX tankcars
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS, CHRISTMAS DAY
2010
- I got to photograph two trains on Christmas Day 2010 passing Union
Station in Little Rock, Arkansas. Included was a unit grain train with
new UP hoppers. There were snow flurries, gusty winds and temperatures
in the mid 30s with wind chill in the mid 20s. Later on Christmas Day I
was honored and privileged to have Christmas dinner with one of the
nicest families I have ever been associated with. It reminded me of
Christmas time in my youth growing up in Texas, where we'd all open
presents, have a great meal and even sing a few Christmas carols and
play some games. To those who helped me celebrate Christmas today....I
thank and bless you all.
Included today:
1) GMTX 9095
2) UP 5952, 6491
3) UP/SP 6392
4) NS 9485
5) Ferromex 4666, 4695
6) BN 686692 coil car with other coil cars
7) Face graffiti
8) ACFX 73871 short tank car
UP 7400, THE PINK RIBBON UNIT,
NORTH LITTLE ROCK DECEMBER 26, 2010
- UP 7400, the Komen Breast Cancer Pink Ribbon unit, left North Little
Rock, AR at 9:52 a.m. Sunday, Dec 26, 2010 heading west toward Van
Buren, Arkansas and Oklahoma. I understand that those side doors, which
had been opening, have been fixed here by UP in North Little Rock.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS, DECEMBEE 26,
2010
- A few trains today, Sunday December 26, 2010, a dark, snow-flurry,
cold day in Little Rock, Arkansas. UP 7400, the pink ribbon unit,
headed a train out of North Little Rock on the Van Buren Sub was one of
the trains I photographed. Earlier at Union Station, my hands were
getting numb from the cold 33 degree temperature and winds. I know this
can't compare with the blizzard they were getting in the northeast part
of the country, but it felt cold none-the-less.
Included today:
1) UP 2074, 4871, 5027, 7400, 1551, 1585, 7609, 7916, 6519, 7087, 5824,
6919, 5676
2) UP/Rio Grande 1900
3) UP/SP 6288
4) CSX 5203, 7495
5) LRWN 1544, 1542, 107
6) MKT 554 green hopper
7) UP 355228 boxcar with trademark
8) IPBX 17581 black and white tank car
9) WLO 505055 boxcar
10) Baretables
TRAINS-STREETCARS IN THE COLD
RAIN, WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 28, 2010
- As most of you know, I love taking pictures in inclement weather,
such as rain, snow, fog, ice. Today, Wednesday December 28,
2010,
was a dark, cold, rainy day in Little Rock, Arkansas, perfect for some
trains and streetcars in the rain photos. I took most of these from the
balcony at Union Station. It was a chilly 45 degrees with light to
moderate rain.
Included today:
1) Streetcar 408 in the rain
2) UP 9702, 4063, 4641
NIGHT PHOTOS DOWNTOWN LITTLE ROCK
DECEMBER 28, 2010
- I took these two night photos of downtown Little Rock, Arkansas on
Wednesday night, December 28, 2010. These were taken from south of
I-630, looking north. It was about 9 p.m. and I had just finished
eating a great meal at Sonny Williams Steakhouse with friends. I used
my Panasonic Lumix GH2 digital camera, hand held.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS PLUS NIGTH
SHOT OF DOWNTOWN LITTLE ROCK IN FOG, DECEMBER 30, 2010
- A few trains today passing Union Station in Little Rock, AR.
Temperatures were in the lower 60s today ahead of strong weather system
expected to arrive Friday.
Included today:
1) UP 6532, 9135, 2418, 8019, 4498, 8581, 8024, 8248
2) NS 9082, 6799, 9383
3) Alberta blue hopper ALPX 628420
4) TCMX 12521 blue/silver hopper
5) Little Rock skyline night photo with fog and low clouds Dec
29
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS AND DARK STORM
CLOUDS, DECEMBEER 31,2010
-One moving train and some parked freight cars, plus dark clouds on
this last day of 2010, December 31. Photos were taken in Little Rock
and North Little Rock, Arkansas.
Included today:
1) Line of new DOWX white tank cars
2) Line of new NAHX white hopper cars
3) 'Blue Devil' graffiti
4) UP 7719
5) UP/SP 6392
6) Foreboding, dark clouds
2011
FIRST TRAINS AT LITTLE ROCK IN
2011
- My first trains of 2011 at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas,
January 1, plus some night streetcar photos from New Years Eve in the
River Market. Of special interest is 'unpatched' SSW 7637, frame and
cab only, KCS Belle units 3999 and 4106 and UP 4141, the Bush unit at
Jenks.
Included today:
1) Night photo of Little Rock streetcar New Years Eve in River District
of Little Rock
2) Flying Saucer waitresses New Years Eve
3) KCS Belles 4106 and 3999
4) UP 4141, Bush unit at Jenks
5) 'Unpatched' SSW 7637, cab only with frame, at Jenks
6) UP 3946, 5824, 7079, 5676, 4714
7) NS 8386
8) KRL 27106 heavy-hauler
9) 'IRS' graffiti
10) SMIX 9021 scrap hauler
11) Rusty SP auto-rack LTTX 65420, built 6/80, rebuilt 4/89
12) String of Wisconsin Central hoppers
TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, JANUARY 2,
2011
- Trains at Little Rock, Arkansas Sunday, January 2, 2011, including
some old freight cars. I started the day at sunrise (7:16 a.m.) and got
one train then, but it was 25 degrees and I decided to go home and come
back in the afternoon after I went to church services.
Included today:
1) UP 7235, 7349, 7443, 2426, 9735, 9752, 5866, 5916, 3977, 4330
2) IC/CN 2716
3) BTKY 21490 green Katy gondola
4) TOE 3059 boxcar with blue end
5) NATX 57033 new tank car
6) NDYX 310 gon
7) JOSX 10349 old hopper
8) KCS 129155 boxcar
9) Unmarked hopper (?)
10) Dump cars
11) SP 286016 purple graffiti boxcar
12) MKT 4466 grey hopper
13) Herzog hoppers
TRAINS, HACKED OFF PIGEON, ARTSY
CLOUDS AND RIO GRANDE UNITS, JANUARY 3-4, 2011
- Here's a few trains, pigeons and artistic clouds in Little Rock and
North Little Rock, Monday January 3 and Tuesday January 4, 2011.
Included:
1) BNSF 4544, 4145
2) TCM 1641
3) UP/Rio Grande 1344 and 1350 together
4) UP 9812. 3971, 5080, 9919
5) UP 2482, 2420, 2460, 2426, 2019, 1964, 8221 all on one train
6) Artsy shot of dark clouds and train
7) NAHX 65726 Rock Island blue hopper
8) Sideless cars of some sort
9) Hacked off pigeon at Union Station
10) MKT 571 green hopper
STREETCAR ADVENTURES LITTLE ROCK,
JANUARY 8, 2011
- On Saturday evening, January 8, 2011, I rode a streetcar with good
friends of mine from the River Market in Little Rock to a fine Italian
Restaurant in North Little Rock called Ristorante Cảpeo. The streetcar
was full when it arrived at the River Market stop, but many got off
there so we got some seats. The ride over the Arkansas River into North
Little Rock was fun.
After the tasty meal, I went
outside to see if I could see any approaching streetcar. By the time I
got to the streetcar stop, I could see the streetcar's headlight in a
maze of auto lights. I ran back inside the restaurant to tell my party
that it was near. By the time everyone got outside, the streetcar was
passing.
The route the streetcar takes from this
restaurant is northbound on Main Street one block then turning left
onto 7th Street, then goes one block to Maple Street where it turns
south toward Little Rock again. Since we missed it at the Post Office
stop, my friends and I decided to walk that one block to Maple Street
and wait for it at a Maple Street Streetcar Stop. By the time we went
that one block, we could see the streetcar's headlight already turning
onto Maple from 7th. So we all RAN to the next stop on Maple Street and
just barely got there before the streetcar did. That was fun and gave
everybody some exercise to help burn the calories we consumed at the
restaurant. When was the last time anyone ran to catch a streetcar? To
have a group of 6 people running down a dimly lit street in a rural
part of North Little Rock was an adventure and will be remembered for a
long time.
TRAINS LITTLE ROCK SATURDAY,
JANUARY 8, 2011
- Clear skies and lots of train action at Union Station in Little Rock,
AR on Saturday, January 8, 2011. It was a windy, chilly day with snow
forecast for the next day. Of special interest is new CN 2108, new GATX
hoppers, solid consist of UP new hoppers with dpu, a 10-locomotive Pine
Bluff local, and other things.
Included today:
1) UP 7911, 5157, 8655, 1551, 4063, 9566, 4486, 9720, 5127, 1474-all on
one train
2) UP 4490, 5164, 4315, 5978, 5826, 4060
3) New CN 2108
4) NS 9759, 9744, 9137, 8941
5) Chessie hi-cube boxcar
6) Snoopy graffiti
7) New GATX-DSIX hoppers
8) MP 641336 with rolls of wire
9) Ashley Drew and Northern-HS 30571
10) NYC 609453 flat with separators of some sort
11) Truck frames
12) SP 286028 boxcar with SP trademark
13) SP 286013 boxcar with SP trademark
14) RBOX 38166 boxcar with ghosts graffiti
15) HZGX 3241 gondola
16) CNW 716450 with its numbers painted on
17) GONX 740402 with compacted scrap
18) CNW 741091 with compacted scrap-Roswell UFO remnants?
19) Solid consist of new UP hoppers
TRAINS INCLUDING LITTLE ROCK
& WESTERN 103 JANUARY 9, 2011
- Little Rock and Western GP9 passing Union Station in Little Rock on
Sunday, January 9, 2011.This was a rare Sunday move, probably because
of the expected snow and ice Sunday evening into Monday. I also
included a short video of the train and a couple more train pictures.
Included today:
1) UP 2074, 7796, 7628
2) UP/SP 2047
3) LRWN 103
4) UP track workers
STREETCAR AND OLD CAR IN SNOW,
JANUARY 9, 2011
- There was an antique car show in Little Rock this past weekend of Jan
8 and 9. This shot of a streetcar on Markham Street was taken late
afternoon of Sunday, Jan 9, 2011 and shows Streetcar 410 with a
1940s-era green car to the left. I enhanced the contrast on the first
picture so you could see the colors and details more clearly. The
second picture is the identical photo but this one was what it actually
looked like from my 14th floor viewing area of the Peabody Hotel.
SNOW, ICE, AMTRAK AND RAILSPOT
TEXAS TRIP JAN 13-16, 2011
- I took a train trip on Amtrak's Texas Eagle from Little Rock, AR to
Fort Worth, TX and return from Thursday night, January 13/14 through
Sunday, January 16, 2011. The purpose was to go to the Plano,
Texas train show and to go to the Railspot Yahoo Group luncheon at Love
and War Restaurant in Plano on Saturday, January 15 at 1 p.m.
I
also visited with my friend from way back in college days while there
and we went train watching a couple of times. I also got a photograph
of waitresses at the Flying Saucer Restaurant in Fort Worth (since I
sometimes do this at the Little Rock Flying Saucer, I thought I'd do
the same in Fort Worth). I also have a photograph of the 60+
Railspot members at Love and War Restaurant in Plano, and yes, I also
got a photo of one of our waitresses there as well.
Also included are scenes of my Amtrak trip to and from Fort Worth from
Little Rock, including two movies taken from my sleeping car window as
the train sped through a town near Wills Point, Texas Friday morning.
Included:
1) Amtrak Texas Eagle 21 and 22 Jan 13, 14 and 16. Icy photos on Jan
13. Lots of people at the station in Little Rock.
2) Amtrak dining car menu
3) Railspot group at Love and War Restaurant
4) Sleeping car photos
5) Two movies as train sped through a Texas town
6) UP Genset 2616
7) UP 6644, 6549 - Kennedale TX
8) UP 4328 - Fort Worth
9) CN 5556 - Fort Worth
10) FRA Inspection Car DOTX 220 - Fort Worth
11) BNSF 4474, 9289, 5483, 7823 - Rio Vista TX
12) Fort Worth Flying Saucer waitresses
13) Love and War Restaurant waitress
TRAINS IN LITTLE ROCK, JANUARY
22, 2011
- Just a few trains on Friday, January 21 and Saturday, January 22,
2011 at the station in Little Rock, AR. Friday was cloudy and cold with
temperatures in the 30s, Saturday was clear and warmer with temps in
the 40s.
Included:
1) UP 4673, 5911, 6020, 5961, 8173, 4066,
9591, 8191, 4234, 5492, 1585, 1556, 9199, 7416, 4522 (most of these
were on only 2 trains)
2) CSX 7724, 253
3) Ferromex 4655
4) CNW 435041 yellow hopper
5) CMO 21712 hopper on flatcar
6) OTDX 6015 and 6047 container cars
7) LRWN 556095 former Port St Joe Route boxcar
8) GPS showing abandoned rails
9) SMIX 9001 scrap car
LOTS OF TRAINS, LOTS OF ROADNAMES
LITTLE ROCK, JANUARY 23, 2011
- Lots of trains on Sunday, January 23, 2011 in Little Rock, including
the following locomotive roadnames: NS, KCS, CSX, SP/UP, CNW/UP, LRWN,
UP, BNSF, HLCX, LLPX. Also seen today was a lone
KCS Belle
hopper and Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar with original ADN
numbers
plus lots of fallen flag freight cars.
Included today:
1) 1) UP 7675, 8114, 8207, 9485, 1530, 9766, 8125, 8544, 5308, 4964,
3987, 7295, 5961, 2426, 330
2) CSX 7317, 8591
3) UP/CNW 9696
4) UPY 641
5) HLCX 1054, 1064
6) LLPX 2203
7) NS 3368
8) LRWN 1544, 103, 107
9) UP/SP 6205, 6211
10) BNSF 5479, 4904
11) KCS 4600, 4587
12) Several lumber loads
13) CP 85612 CP Rail boxcar
14) ETCX 4002 multi-dome tank car
15) NAHX Rock Island faded blue hopper
16) ADN 5818 with original Ashley Drew & Northern markings
17) KCS 287179 Belle hopper
18) WP 38025 Western Pacific boxcar
19) ICG 68003 Illinois Central Gulf hi-cube boxcar
20) DRGW 19731 Rio Grande hopper
21)
HS 4339 boxcar. According to Michael Gilmore and Tom Balzen, the
original owner was Terminal Railway Alabama State Docks,
TASD.
The railroad switches the Port of Mobile, Al
One of their mp-15's
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/misc-t/trr803ald.jpg Boxcar with
lattering http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/misc-t/tasd77131dba.jpg
22) CR 631360 CoilSHIELD car
23) MKT 535 green hopper
24) MKT 4498 grey hopper
25) MKT 4415 grey hopper
26) MKT 4446 grey hopper
27) SHPX 221214 blue/white short tank car
28) CSXT 180682 Chessie hi-cube boxcar
NIGHT TRAINS, INCLUDING AMTRAK
AND BNSF LOCALWITH BLUE UNIT, LITTLE ROCK, JANUARY 28, 2011
- A night movie of Amtrak's Texas Eagle, No. 22 northbound to St Louis
and Chicago, taken at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas on Friday
night, January 28, 2011, plus a night movie of the BNSF local backing a
train over the Little Rock & Western's tracks in front of Union
Station at 11:42 p.m., also on January 28. This BNSF local was headed
by SF 512 in warbonnet colors, blue BNSF 2042, and green BN 2098. In
addition,
Included:
1) Amtrak locomotive 95
2) Movie of Amtrak Texas Eagle leaving Little Rock at night
3) SF 512
4) Blue BNSF 2042
5) Green BNSF 2098
6) Movie of BNSF local backing in front of Union Station at night
7) RSSX 1681, 5810
UP 1995, CNW HERITAGE, OTHER
TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, SATURDAY JANUARY 29, 2011 -
UP 1995, the CNW heritage unit, CEFX 2011 and 2028 gensets, other
trains at Little Rock, AR Saturday, January 29, 2011.
Included:
1) UP 1995, 4730, 1567, 1574, 1553, 4141, 6789, 6366, 3959, 4159, 1601,
9771(CNW)
2) NS 9320, 2680
3) WTX 5821 shiny black hopper
4) ICG 680129, 680112 hi-cube boxcars
5) HS 30715 Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar
6) UP 563179 boxcar with UP trademark
7) SSW 7637 locomotive shell
UP 1995 RETURNING FROM HOUSTON, 2
MKT GREEN HOPPERS IN ROW, OTHER TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, THU FEB 3, 2011
- Rare lashup of two MKT green hoppers, Little Rock & Western
1542
at night on Riverfront Drive Little Rock, plus UP 1995-CNW Heritage
unit and others at Union Station during a very cold, cloudy day,
Thursday February 3, 2011. It was 24 degrees.
Included today:
1) MKT 573 and 523 green hoppers hooked together
2) UP 2426, 6756, 5733, 2460, 8050, 9315, 1995
3) UP/SP 6167
4) NS 2725 and 8945
5) LRWN 1542 at night
TRAINS, LITTLE ROCK, FEBRUARY 5,
2011
- Here's a few trains today, Saturday February 5, 2011 at the
station in Little Rock. It was a rare, sunny day with temperatures in
the lower 40s. Snow was still on the cars and in shady areas and more
snow is forecast for Sunday night and Monday and a major snowstorm
could be in the works for the middle of next week, when we could easily
get a foot of snow in the Little Rock area as temperatures fall into
the teens by mid week. So, I'm taking advantage of any good days I can
for train photography.
Included today:
1) UP 9216, 4848, 1562, 1585, 1556
2) NS 9818
3) GMTX 2122
4) NW 188210 heavily loaded gondola
5) NS 101506 flat with steel plates
6) TTZX 14467 and other loads of lumber
7) SPMW 7228 cute short hopper
8) Snow on parked cars
HEAVY HAULER, OTHER TRAINS LITTLE
ROCK, FEBRUARY 6, 2011
- Little Rock trains on Sunday, February 6, 2011, a mostly cloudy day
with mild temperatures, over 50 at times. Of special interest is BAWX
106, Babcock-Wilcox heavy hauler flatcar with 16 axles.
Included:
1) UP 2074, 1551, 1593, 1554, 1596, 9356, 4439, 2021, 5549, 4232
2) BNSF 1002, 4659, warbonnet 645
3) FERROMEX 4685
4) GMTX 2122
5) BAWX 106, Babcock-Wilcox 16-axle heavy hauler
6) SP Lines emblem on SP 36521 gondola
FLYING SAUCER WAITRESS IN HEAVY
SNOW, LITTLE ROCK, FEBRUARY 9, 2011
- Here's two Flying Saucer Beer Emporium waitresses posing in the heavy
snow in the River Market in Little Rock, Arkansas, Wednesday February
9, 2011. These were taken shortly after noon. Little Rock was having
its biggest snowstorm of the year so far. I measured snow depth of 7
inches about the time these photos were taken. Notice that you can't
see the streetcar tracks.
HEAVY SNOW, STREETCARS AND OTHER
SCENES LITTLE ROCK, AR, WEDNESDAY FEB 9, 2011
- These pictures were taken Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at Little Rock,
Arkansas during the year's biggest snowstorm. Little Rock had 6 inches
and other parts of the state had up to 2 feet. I've included several
streetcar pictures in the snow, including a movie of one running over
snow-covered track. Also included are two Flying Saucer waitresses, who
posed for me outside in the 24-degree weather during the heaviest part
of the snowfall.
MULTI-COLORED BNSF LOCAL IN
DAYLIGHT, OTHER TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, SATURADAY, FEB 12, 2011
- BNSF local backing on Little Rock & Western's tracks in front
of
Union Station on Saturday, February 12, 2011 to store and pick up cars.
It had a colorful consist again: BNSF/BN 2934 (green), BNSF 2042 (one
of their blue units) and BNSF/Santa Fe 512 in faded Warbonnet paint. It
was a sunny day with the sun behind me. Also today, I included a 'then
and now' shot of Main and 6th Streets in Little Rock, one taken in 1910
with streetcars and one February 8, 2011. Also, I've included a couple
of photos of Bennett's Military Supply store in downtown Little Rock,
which recently celebrated its 140th year of operation serving the
camping, sporting, and military fields. Its' motto is: "Home of the
Free Because of the Brave - Thank You Armed Forces"
(Note....I
didn't create a clickable to enlarge format for this page, whereby I
have smaller images which you click to enlarge. Instead I just uploaded
all the 28 photos in my larger, 1,000 pixel wide format, which should
download in 6-20 seconds or so if you have broadband. If any of you
want me to also upload those small images, let me know - Ken Z)
Included today:
1) BNSF/BN 2934 green
2) BNSF/SF 512 Warbonnet
3) BNSF 2042 blue
4) UP 5003,. 4773, 1574
5) Cyclops eye graffiti
6) MKT 553 green hopper
7) MKT 16338 red gondola
8) MKT 4366 hopper
9) AOK 6476 flatcar with wheelsets
10) HS 3856 Valdosta Southern Railroad Co. boxcar
11) Harlem Globetrotter bus with Little Rock Streetcar 408 in River
Market
12) 1910 and 2011 6th and Main scene in Little Rock
13) Bennett's Military Supply 140th anniversary
AMTRAK 40TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
LOCOMOITVE ON TEXAS EAGLE 22, LITTLE ROCK, FEBRUARY 12, 2011
- Night shots and movie. Amtrak locomotive No. 145, the 40th
anniversary heritage unit, lead Amtrak's northbound Texas Eagle Train
#22 out of Little Rock, Arkansas on Saturday night, February 12, 2011
aat 11:39 p.m., on time to the minute. Here are some photos and an HD
movie.
ROSES FOR MY LATE WIFE
SARAH PLUS TIGGER, OUR CAT, FEBRUARY 13, 2011
- I used to give my wife Sarah a small bouquet of roses every
Valentines Day. I got some roses again this year, but for the first
time in 37 years I have no one to give them to since my wife died last
year. So, I thought I'd share this bouquet with my friends instead,
wishing all of you a Happy Valentines Day filled with love. Cherish
your friends ... I sure do.
ARKANSAS RAZORBACK DAYS AT
CAPITOL AND TRAIN STATION LITTLE ROCK, FEBERUARY 16, 2011
- Once a year, the Arkansas Razorback cheerleaders, band and other
people from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, AR come to the
State Capitol in Little Rock to talk to legislators and have a
'Razorback Day' in the city. The school's mascot, Tusk, a large
razorback, also made the trip this year, on Wednesday, February 16,
2011. Here are some photos.
TRAINS AT THE STATION IN LITTLE
ROCK, FEBRUARY 16, 2011 - Wednesday, February
16, 2011 at Union Station in Little Rock. Also, Arkansas Razorback
cheerleaders and mascot.
Included today:
1) CSX 5252, 212
2) UP 4293, 7346, 2260, 5106, 4089
3) LRWN 103, 107
4) FERROMEX 4684
5) SP 286001 with SP Emblem
6) ARMN 111478 with submarine (?) drawing-looks a little like the
Disney Nautilus to me from 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea
7) ARMN 111275 with script of some sort
8) Union Station clock
9) Dove
10) Arkansas Razorback mascot 'Tusk'
11) Arkansas Razorback cheerleaders
12) New Amtrak sign
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS, FEBRUARY 20,
2011
- Here are a few trains at Union Station in Little Rock, taken Sunday
February 20, 2011. About 10:15 a.m., there was a police chase going on
and one of the cars being chased got stuck on UP Main 2 just around the
corner from the station at milepost 346.9. This tied up trains for a
couple of hours. I got a 32X zoom shot of it from the west side of the
station platform.
Included: today:
1) UP/CNW 9771
2) UP 5182, 5192, 4101, 4860, 1583, 4181
3) NS 9209
4) GMTX 2157'
5) CEFX 405
6) BNSF 4411
7) Auto stuck on tracks
8) Spools load
9) MKT 530, 558, 502 green hoppers
10) BN green hopper
PASSING TRAINS LITTLE ROCK PLUS
PHOTOS A WEEK EARLIER OF FUNDRAISER WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON AND OTHERS
- Here are a few trains at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas on
Sunday, February 27, 2011, including UP, NS, KCS units. Also a few
scenes taken at a fundraiser February 19 for the opening of the Argenta
(North Little Rock) Community Theater, which was attended by North
Little Rock Mayor Pay Hays (his father worked for Missouri Pacific),
Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe, North Little Rock raised actress Mary
Steenburgen (her father was an engineer for Missouri Pacific), and
former President Bill Clinton. The event was held on Main Street in
North Little Rock (they closed the street the night before) and a
streetcar was parked for tours outside the tent set up for the function.
Included today:
1) NS 7528, 9617
2) KCS 4019
3) PRLX 8557
4) GMTX 2126
5) 141 New-133 Worn transition rail
6) CNW 590749 yellow hopper
7) HS 30919 Columbus & Greenville boxcar
8) Closeup of wasp
9) Little Rock Streetcar 409 on display at a fundraiser plus the
trolley barn at night
10) Photos of February 19 fundraiser
11) Moon though winter trees at night
UP 1988-NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR,
FEBRUARY 28, 2011
- UP 1988, the Katy Heritage unit, was alone in an area of
the
North Little Rock UP yards on Monday, February 28, 2011, So, thanks to
a heads-up from John C. Jones who is UP's local photographer, I got
this quick photo of the locomotive in the hump yard. I know...too much
clutter, but it shows the reality of the scene (I don't think I'll send
this one to Railpictures.net :-). I also got a shot of an Ashley, Drew
& Northern boxcar.
UP 1996-FLOWERS-NORTH LITTLE
ROCKI, MARCH 1, 2011
- UP 1996, the Southern Pacific heritage locomotive and UPY 144 in
North Little Rock, Tuesday March 1, 2011. I also included some vivid
and multi-colored flowers at the Promenade Shopping Center in western
Little Rock. And a streetcar passing my parked car in the River Market
of Little Rock.
TRAINS-BLOSSOMS-LITTLE ROCK,
MARCH 3, 2011
- Caught an autorack train passing an empty coal train at Union Station
today, Thursday March 3, 2011. Also included are some Spring blossoms
and my sleeping cat Tigger.
Included today:
1) UP 3897, 4554, 7118, 4830
2) NS 8879
3) EJ&E coil cars, one GRW 6823
4) Truck frames
5) White blossoms
6) My cat Tigger asleep
UP 1989, THE DGRW HERITAGE, ON A
SPECIAL PASSENGER TRAIN LITTLE ROCK, MARCH 4, 2011-410 A.M.
- UP 1989, the Denver & Rio Grande Heritage locomotive, lead a
special passenger train (SBTCB-03) past Union Station in Little Rock,
Arkansas in the wee hours of Friday morning, March 4, 2011. It stopped
in front of the station at 3:55 a.m. until 4:10 a.m., waiting for the
Baring Cross Bridge's liftspan to lower. This gave me a good
opportunity to take a few time exposures of the locomotive and train
plus a relatively well-lit sound movie of it leaving, which includes
its horn echoing across the area. You can also hear a cricket as it was
accelerating.
I really lucked out on this one. Just an
hour before it got here, I got a message that is was due at 5 a.m.
(earlier time estimate was 6 a.m.). Well, instead of waiting at home
and heading for the station by 5 a.m., I decided to go on down and got
there at 340, thinking I would have to wait an hour. Then I got a text
saying it was at Biddle Yards in south Little Rock already, but would
have to stop at Union Station because of the bridge's liftspan being up
(thank you nice barge operators - lol). Anyway, here are a
couple
of photos and link to my Youtube video, which is in 720p HD. I also
included a movie of Amtrak's Texas Eagle leaving at 5:02 a.m.
RSS
SWITCHERS, UP 2001 OLYMPIC UNIT, UP 1982 N LITTLE ROCK, MARCH 7, 2011
- UP 1982 (MoPac heritage), UP 2001 (Olympic unit) and two RSS
locomotives in North Little Rock, Arkansas, March 7, 2011. I even got
one shot of both 2001 and 1982 in one scene. However, you have to find
the 1982 in that photo. UP1996, the SP heritage, was also in the UP
yards in North Little Rock but I couldn't find it. The RSS locomotives
are Nos. 1205 and 1206.
UP 1982-1996 TOGETHER-UP 2001,
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, MARCH 8, 2011
- UP 1982 (MoPac Heritage) and 1996 (Southern Pacific
Heritage)
coupled together in North Little Rock in the UP yards, Tuesday March 8,
2011, plus UP 2001, the Olympic unit. 1982 and 1996 will lead the
MNLME-09 train to Memphis on March 9 and be part of a crossing safety
train on March 12 in the North Little Rock area. It was a rainy, dismal
day, temperatures around 49-50.
UP 1983 AND 1996 TOGETHER NORTH
LITTLE ROCK, MARCH 10, 2011
- Union Pacific heritage locomotives 1982, 1983 and 1996 were all in
North Little Rock, Arkansas on Thursday, March 10, 2011. Here's a shot
of 1983 and 1996 in the service area of UP's North Little Rock yards.
OPERATION LIFESAVER SCHEDULES
ISSUED MARCH 12, 2011 FOR FOLLOWING WEEK IN ARKANSAS.
- Here's the preliminary schedules for UP's Operation
Lifesaver
trips in Arkansas March 14-18, 2011. The trips are supposed to use UP
heritage locomotives 1982 (MoPac) and 1996 (SP) set up with one
locomotive at each end of the train so they don't have to turn engines.
These schedules were given me by John C. Jones, who is the official
photographer for the local Union Pacific area. Like anything associated
with a busy freight railroad, these times and places could change. I
will update this page as needed, so 'refresh' the page once in a while.
FOUR SPECIALLY PAINTED UP
LOCOMOITVES NORTH LITTLE ROCK, MARCH 12, 2011
- On Saturday, March 12, 2011, we had four (4) Union Pacific
specially-painted locomotives in North Little Rock, Arkansas - UP 1982,
the Missouri Pacific Heritage-UP 1996, the Southern Pacific Heritage;
UP 4141, the George Bush Library, and UP 1988, the Katy Heritage. Here
are photos of all of them taken today. I'm hoping they might put 1988
in front of 1996 and 1982 in the yard sometimes, but not sure that'll
happen. The 1982 and 1996 will be used this coming week, Monday through
Friday, on Operation Lifesaver (or possibly CARE-Crossing Accident
Reduction Enforcement) trips all across Arkansas. I'm not sure what
1988 will do, and the George Bush unit is being stored here
indefinitely (I see it almost daily at Jenks).
This is
the second time in a week that we've had 4 special-painted locomoitves
here. The last time was March 8 when 4141, 2001, 1996 and 1982 were
here.
OPERATION LIFESAVER-CARE-TRAIN
BALD KNOB, MARCH 13, 2011
- On Sunday, March 13, 2011 UP heritage locomotives 1982 (MoPac) and
1996 (SP) were parked in Bald Knob, Arkansas with their special
passenger car consist for the CARE safety train, which will be running
across Arkansas the coming week. Bald Knob is on the UP Hoxie Sub. The
consist of the parked train was UP 1996, UP 1982, passenger cars UP
Challenger dome car, City of Salina and Cheyenne.
UP 1983, WESTERN PACIFIC
HERITAGE, NORTH LITTLE ROCK MARCH 14, 2011
- UP 1983 was the rear DPU unit on the Kansas City to Pine Bluff,
Arkansas mixed freight (MKCPB-12) on Monday, March 14, 2011 as it came
through the Levy area of North Little Rock, Arkansas on the Van Buren
Sub. Some of the scenes are of 1983 on the sharp curve under the
Interstate 40 overpass, where it was stopped for over an hour waiting
for signals. I also got a closeup of the remnants of graffiti that had
been placed on the unit several weeks ago in another part of the
country. Yes, you can still see parts of the graffiti, but whoever
removed it did a pretty good job without damaging 1983's original
paint.
TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, MARCH 16, 2011
- Happy St Patrick's Day! Here's a few trains from March 15 and 16,
2011 at Little Rock, Arkansas. Included is NS 2555, which has
LOTS of extra white paint on it! Plus newly refurbished UP
1600-1601 and 1602.
Included today:
1) UP 2089, 1600, 1601, 1602, 9662, 2460
2) BNSF 7353
3) GMTX 2157
4) NS 2555
OPERATIONAL LIFESAVER WITH UP
1982-1996 AT NIGHT LITTLE ROCK, MARCH 18, 2011
- Special Operation Lifesaver, CARE safety train arriving in Little
Rock, 10:14 pm Friday, March 18, 2011, briefly stopping in front of
Union Station. Also included is a movie of it leaving. This
train
had UP 1982, the Missouri Pacific Heritage, on one end and UP 1996, the
Southern Pacific Heritage on the other end. It was carrying passenger
cars Cheyenne, City of Salina and dome car Challenger. This
train
had been running these specials across Arkansas all week including in
Bald Knob, Pine Bluff, Camden, Texarkana and Little Rock.
TRAINS, 'SUPER MOON' CLOSEUP,
OTHER PHOTOS MARCH 20, 2011
- A predawn closeup of the full 'Super Moon' over the tracks at Union
Station in Little Rock, March 20, 2011, plus several trains during the
next few hours. Also: dead fish, a remote-controlled toy Jeep run off
the Amtrak platform, a pack of dogs, and a sepiatone photo of Union
Station before dawn.
Included today:
1) Closeup of the 'Super Moon' at Union Station pre-dawn
2) Sepia-toned photo of Union Station
3) UP 4120, 7462, 5524, 6232, 7253, 5669, 1605, 4955, 5346, 5164, 7754
4) KCS 4545
5) Ferromex 4651
6) Illinois Central Gulf hi-cube ICG 680057
7) UP 210134 coilcar
8) Pack of dogs
9) Dead fish
10) Remote-controlled toy Jeep
11) Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar ADN 5021
12) Newly painted NS hi-cube NS 487730
13) Potash Corp hoppers
14) Arkansas River
LWRN 1544 AND OTHER TRAINS,
LITTLE ROCK, MARCH 23, 2011
- I went to Union Station in Little Rock Wednesday afternoon, March 23,
2011 to catch a couple of trains, and during a 1 hour and 7 minute
period, I caught 7 trains. Not bad for a spur of the moment decision to
go there.
Included today:
1) LRWN 1544, 103
2) UP 5658, 9602, 4904, 2064, 4161, 6566, 7287, 7758, 8529
3) CSX 8141
4) UPS train
AUTAUGA NORTHERN RAILROAD
3908-3900 LOCOS, OTHER TRAINS LITTLE ROCK MARCH 26, 2011
- A couple of trains today in Little Rock, Saturday, March
26,
2011, including new or newly painted locomotives WAMX 3900 and 3908.
Included today:
1) UP 9592, 9309
2) WAMX 3900, 3908 (Autauga Northern Railroad)
3) Ferromex 4604, 4636
4) HS 30050 and 30048 Greenville & Northern Railway boxcars
5) BNSF 793458 reefer with the 'blue waves'
6) HS 75303 blue Rock Island boxcar
7) Wire coil load
8) CLBX 171783, one of 3 blue boxcars
9) Bright yellow wet flowers and and red tulips
10-CAR AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE, LITTLE
ROCK, MARCH 27, 2011
- Amtrak northbound Texas Eagle, No. 22, arrived in Little Rock, AR at
11:35 p.m. Sunday night, March 27, 2011 and left at 11:48 p.m. nearly
on schedule. What's special this night was that it had 10 Superliners
and locomotive No. 500, which was a biodiesel locomotive. The train
usually has 7 cars, but there was a special group of 220 who rode it
from Fort Worth to Mineola, Texas on Sunday, after being in Fort Worth
for a wine tasting festival, so the extra 3 Superliner cars were added.
This same group of 220 rode the southbound train from Mineola to Fort
Worth on Saturday, March 26. Mineola is about 2 hours east of Dallas on
US 80. I took some pictures of the train at the Little Rock station as
well as a couple of movies, which I have links to on this web page. It
felt downright cold with drizzle and temperature around 40 degrees.
Consist of Texas Eagle No. 22 tonight (I think I got all the numbers
right)
1) Amtrak locomotive 85
2) Amtrak locomotive 500
3) Superliner 39014
4) 32034
5) 37010
6) 33003
7) 31014
8) 34139
9) 34041
10) 34099
11) 35006
12) 34020
TRAINS IN THE RAIN, LITTLE ROCK,
MARCH 31, 2011 - A rainy and cool afternoon
again in Little Rock, AR on this last day of March, 2011. Temperatures
were in the upper 40s.
Included today:
1) UP 2426, 2021, 8486, 4141 (at Jenks), 1584, 1587
2) KCS boxcars 154031 and 152048
3) String of 6 TR boxcars, one being 150983
4) Full parking lot at Union Station
5) Rain (just to show some of you in parts of drought-stricken Texas
what rain looks like)
TRAINS IN LITTLE ROCK, APRIL 2,
2011
- A few trains on a sunny, warm day in Little Rock, Arkansas, Saturday
April 2, 2011. It was 80 degrees today, which felt hot compared to the
40s of a few days ago.
Included today:
1) UP 7204, 1609, 4392, 8119, 4657, 7402, 4229
2) NS 2761
3) Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar ADN 5818
4) BN green boxcar 219304
5) Columbus & Greenville boxcars HS 30968 and 30773
6) VS RR, Valdosta Southern Railroad Company boxcar HS 3866
7) Corinth & Counce RR Company boxcar HS 72264
8) SMT and J. B. Hunt trailers
TRAINS IN LITTLE ROCK, APRIL 3,
2011 - Here's a few trains at Little Rock
Sunday, April 3, 2011, including NS 3281 "High Nose". It was a nice,
warm day.
Included today:
1) UP 9825, 7443, 5792, 6907, 6601
2) NS 3281 "High Nose"
3) Spring flowers
TRAIN IN A STORM, LITTLE ROCK,
APRIL 4, 2011
- A strong cold front and strong storms passed the Little Rock area
around 11 a.m. Monday, April 4, 2011. I decided to try to get a train
in the storms from the east balcony of Union Station and got this rare
NS short intermodal passing at 11:19 a.m. headed by NS 9584 and
9468. I got a photo plus a video, which you can view by
clicking
on the photo I marked.
The storms that occurred
today blew down numerous large trees and had periods of heavy rain. No
tornadoes, but the straight line winds gusted to near 45 mph in the
region as the storms moved through. My tripod I usually use to get
videos kept blowing over, so I hand held the camera while I took the
video. Even with the camera's wind-shield operating, you can still hear
the strong winds over the train (in stereo). I had a hard time keeping
my balance when I walked down the spiral staircase to get off the
balcony due to the wind. We had one inch of rain. Temperatures fell
from the mid 70s to the lower 50s during the morning and will drop into
the mid to upper 30s overnight.
TRAINS IN LITTLE ROCK, APRIL 8,
2011
- A few trains at Union Station in Little Rock, April 6 and
8,
2011, including some old freight cars and my first roses of the year in
my yard.
Included today:
1) SCYX 893580 new hopper
2) CSX 7644, 4750
3) UP 5066, 8248, 8029, 7843, 8136, 5495
4) GCCX 700062 hopper
5) MKT 576 green hopper
6) SSW 85205 Golden West hi-cube boxcar
7) Old Santa Fe car SMTX 9529
8) BI-MAX UP autorack
9) First roses of 2011 in my yard
DERAILMENT IN UP NORTH LITTLE
ROCK YARDS, SUNDAY APRIL 10, 2011
- About 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 10, 2011, about 5 cars derailed inside
Union Pacific's North Little Rock yards. The train had come off the Van
Buren Sun (from west Arkansas) and the cars derailed in the middle of
the train on the '200 track.' The end of the train was still around the
Van Buren Wye, so the Van Buren Sub was blocked until the site was
repaired. It was not repaired as of 10:35 p.m. I took these photos from
the Locust Street highway overpass using my 30X camera after 7 p.m.
TRAINS IN LITTLE ROCK, SUNDAY
APRIL 10, 2011 - A few trains on Saturday, April
9 and Sunday, April 10, 2011 at Little Rock, AR.
Included:
1) UP 9397, 360, 2252, 3800, 4365, 4409,
2) NS 2508, 7589, 2734, 2747
3) LRWN 1542
4) CN blue hi-cube boxcars
5) SPSX 59882 yellow gon with track sections
6) Union Station taken from Markham Street
WINDMILL BLADES LOADED AT PORT OF
LITTLE ROCK, APRIL 14, 2011 AT NIGHT
- LM Wind Power of Little Rock, Arkansas was
loading some
newly manufactured windmill blades onto flatcars at the Port of Little
Rock (on the Arkansas River) on Thursday night, April 14, 2011. A Union
Pacific official invited me to come out and video and take photos of
this loading. The train being loaded is the first full windmill blade
train that LM Wind Power will run from here. Other blades they
manufactured have up to now been shipped by trucks. I was told that
this train is expected to leave the Port of Little Rock on Monday,
April 18, but that is subject to change.
Just to make
you feel sorry for me, I left my cozy seat on the couch at home with a
purring kitty on my lap to get these photos tonight. The Port of Little
Rock is located on the east side of Little Rock next to the airport,
about a 15 minute drive from my home. :-)
TRAINS IN LITTLE ROCK, APRIL 14
AND 15, 2011 - Here's some trains at Little
Rock, Arkansas on Thursday, April 14 and Friday, April 15, 2011.
Included:
1) NS 9444, 9001
2) NREX 5542, red GP40-2, DRF-30
3) UP 7920, 6542, 7106, 9818, 9614, 2482, 8223, 7260, 4201, 5475, 4144
4) Ferromex 4658
5) CSX 8507
6) SP 343 (I couldn't see a UP patch)
7) SOO 122999 one of a string of Canadian Pacific hoppers
8) CNW 435038 yellow hopper
9) WSOR 503113, one of a string of Wisconsin & Southern boxcars
10) SOO 8728 boxcar
11) MP 271675, one of a string of newly painted UP hi-cube boxcars.
Originally built 10/69
12) Four Little Rock Amtrak signs in one photo
13) GNOX 38025 short hopper
14) BCOL 60282 BCRail green boxcar
15) Unknown old hopper with very faded markings NAHX (xx)01(xx). No
graffiti.
16) Rosebud
17) Black comb on yellow Amtrak platform
18) Screenshot of NWS Doppler radar when severe storms moved through at
2:15 a.m. April 15
TRAINS IN LITTLE ROCK, SUNDAY
APRIL 17, 2011
- Nice, sunny day with several trains. I also took my occasional photo
of the Bush unit, UP 4141 sitting at Jenks and the Centennial
locomotive on display, UP 6938, also at Jenks. Included also was the
chemical training cars from Dow.
Included:
1) UP 5021, 9548, 8085, 6577, 4141, 6938
2) NS 2774, 7649, 8690, 9345, 9482, 8465
3) UP/SP 6250
4) CSX 8320
5) Dow Chemical training cars
6) CP 355198 red Canadian Pacific gondola
7) LT 8251 rattling gondola movie
TRAINS IN THE RAIN LITTLE ROCK,
APRIL 21, 2011
- Here's a few trains in the late afternoon rain in Little Rock,
Arkansas Thursday, April 21, 2011. I had just gone to a wine sampling
event (with 140 wines from vendors from all over the country)
and
decided to go out in the rain and take train pictures afterwards. No, I
didn't swerve off the road at all since I only sampled a tiny amount of
wine - I went mainly for the food - LOL).
Included:
1) Wet bird
2) UP 4315, 9273
3) NS 2671
4)
9 min and 30 second video of long freight - YNL-75. I had to put my
hand above the camera to prevent rain from hitting the lens, so you can
see my hand in the upper right of the video occasionally.
TRAINS IN LITTLE ROCK, INCLUDING
UP 1988 KATY UNIT APRIL 25, 2011
- Monday, April 25, 2011. Dark clouds plus trains. Life doesn't get any
better, right? lol. Caught UP 1988 in North Little Rock, AR after it
came in on the Fort Worth to North Little Rock mixed train, MFWNL-24.
Plus a couple of green MKT hoppers. And pictures of water....lots of
water in places. Most of Arkansas will be getting rain, thunderstorms,
hail and a few tornadoes today through Wednesday morning. Rainfall has
already totaled over 8 inches in parts of west and north Arkansas and
several more inches are possible statewide through Wednesday morning.
Just like a few days ago, streetlights came on in the middle of the day
due to the darkness. IF I could somehow transport some of this water to
dry parts of Texas, I would...using long trains of water tank
cars.
Included today:
1) UP 1988, 2089
2) Dark clouds and water
3) MKT 570 and 535, green hoppers
SUNNY DAY WITH TRAINS LITTLE
ROCK, APRIL 28, 2011
- Finally, a bright, sunny day at Little Rock on Thursday, April 28,
2011. I got a rare meet between a north and south-bound train, and one
KCS train. Also one photo of a streetcar in the River Market.
Included:
1) UP 1929, 1971, 8119
2) KCS 4008, 4015
3) UP engineer
4) Streetcar in River Market
CHILLY, RAINY DAY AND TRANS, MAY
2, 2011
- It was a chilly, rainy day (52 degrees in mid afternoon, dropping
into the lower 40s by dark) at Union Station in Little Rock, AR on
Monday, May 2, 2011. The area received 6 to 12 inches of rain over the
past 4 days and major roads are flooded, as well as parts of
UP's
main line north of Little Rock near Cabot. However, the rain was
getting lighter as I was at the station. All schools in the county have
been closed for tomorrow due to flooded streets.
Included today:
1) UP 2084, 5877, 5274
2) GMTX 2145, 2156
3) Track workers
AMTRAK SIGN TELLING OF SUSPENSION
OF SERVICE DUE FLOODING, MAY 3, 3011.-
This was taped on the Amtrak waiting room door at Union Station in
Little Rock, Arkansas this morning, Tuesday May 3, 2011. Both Texas
Eagles, Amtrak 21 and 22, were suspended until further notice due to
flooding in Arkansas and Missouri (UP's main line north of Little Rock
near Cabot, AR was still under water late this morning.) I also
included a photo of the normal office hours at this station. The Eagles
usually get here 11:30 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. daily.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS, MAY 3, 2011
- Finally a clear, blue sky and mild temperatures in Little Rock as I
watched a few trains. Included today:
1) UP 9617, 9830, 1971, 9709 (with 1994 Utah Safety plaque), 3507, 4099
2) LLPX 2296
3) Amtrak suspension notice due to flooding
TRAIN WRECK NLR PHOTOS AND AMTRAK
DETOUR ON COTTON BELT INFORMATION
- Here's a few photos of a UP derailment in North Little Rock which
occurred Thursday night, May 5, 2011 about 9 p.m. The derailment
occurred under the Interstate 30 overpass and I took the shots from the
sidewalk from the Main Street overpass in North Little Rock Friday, May
6 about 1 p.m. This derailment shut down UP Mains 1 and 2. Both
of Amtrak's Texas Eagles had to be detoured via the Cotton
Belt
from N Dexter, Missouri to Jonesboro, Brinkley, Pine Bluff, getting
back on it's normal route at Texarkana, using the Jonesboro and Pine
Bluff Subs. .
I noticed that No. 22, the northbound
Eagle, passed Brinkley, Arkansas at 5:22 a.m. today, May 6, while the
southbound No. 21 passed there at 8:10 a.m. Since water is over
Interstate 40 at the White River bridge just west of Brinkley, I
couldn't get there to get pictures unless I went hours out of the way.
Interstate 40 was closed and will continue to be closed for
days
in east Arkansas (an average of 35,000 cars a day use this main
east-west interstate and everyone is being detoured hundreds of miles).
The southbound Texas Eagle stopped at Pine Bluff
shortly before noon today, Friday May 6, and I was told by passengers
who were bused to the Amtrak station (Union Station) in Little Rock
that large crowds of people greeted the train in Pine Bluff since it
was the first regular passenger train to stop at the historic Pine
Bluff station (now a museum) in over 40 years. Not sure if the reroutes
will occur tonight or not.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS, 'BUBBLE OF
LIFE', MAY 14, 2011
- Saturday, May 14, 2011. Finally got back to getting some train
pictures here at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas. Been away from
trains for over a week due to fun, non-rail things I've been doing with
fun people, not all in Arkansas either. Anyway, it was a cloudy,
unusually cool day with temperatures in the 60s and north wind 15-20
mph. Normally it's in the lower 80s.
Included today:
1) UP 5962, 7223, 2380
2) UP/SP 6150
3) Pigeon
4) "Bubble of Life"
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS WITH PBS CREW,
MAY 15, 2011
- Here's a few trains in Little Rock Sunday, May 15, 2011. A PBS crew
was there filming a documentary on railroads in Arkansas, which will
air in the Fall.
Included today:
1) UP 8230, 5962, 8634, 5546, 4613
2) CN 2567, 2401 (Zebra)
3) Empty rail train
4) Kite bird
5) Closeup of Moon at night
6) BNSF reefer 793168
7) Ashley Drew & Northern ADN 5017
8) Illinois Cereal Mills Inc. hopper AEX 7517
9) Girl playing guitar
BRINKLEY TRAINS WITH PBS CREW,
MAY 17, 2011
- Trains in Brinkley, Arkansas on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 with a PBS crew
doing a documentary on railroads in Arkansas. Plus a work crew at Union
Station in Little Rock. I used my 1000 pixel-wide reduced resolution
photos on this site. If you have trouble viewing or it takes too long,
next time I'll create the smaller click-to-enlarge photos (300 pixels
wide) page when I have this many photos so those who still have dialup
or slow broadband and view easier. However, that conversion takes me
another hour, so unless I have too many complaints about this page
taking too long to view, I'll continue to use photos of this size
unless I have lots more pictures. Let me know what you think:
thundertrain@gmail.com
By the way, I deliberately took
photos with other photographers in them since this shows the PBS
documentary being made.
Included today:
1) UP 5133, 7434, 3832, 8617
2) AETN film crews
3) Museum interior
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE NO. 22 WITH
SPECIAL LOCO, MAY 18, 2011
- Amtrak Texas Eagle No. 22 arrived in Little Rock, Arkansas at 11:05
a.m. Wednesday, May 18, 2011 with Amtrak locomotives No. 519 and 184
leading. No. 184 is one of Amtrak's 40th anniversary
locomotives.
Its arrival was about 30 minutes early. The train had 8 cars tonight,
on its way to St Louis and Chicago. I had an exhausting day and was
tired, but I want to thank the nice railfans who contacted me telling
me of these two Amtrak locomotives tonight in Amtrak's Phase
IV
paint, so I could put off sleeping for another couple hours
(lol). - Ken Z
UP SPECIAL TRAIN, LITTLE ROCK,
MAY 21, 2011
- A UP special train with 11 cars passed Union Station in Little Rock
on Saturday, May 21, 2011 heading to Pine Bluff, AR from Dupo,
Illinois. Thanks to UP people and the Internet for alerting me to to
this train. Special thanks to John C. Jones who called me with updates.
WRECKER, TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, MAY
26, 2011
- Here are a few trains at Little Rock on Thursday, May 26, 2011,
including a wrecker, two BNSF trains, Little Rock & Western and
even a UP train or two. These were taken at Union Station.
Included today:
1) UP 1946, 4033, 7452, 7921
2) LLPX 2273
3) BNSF 4637, 5777, 1007, 7564
4) LRWN 1544, 1542
5) UP wrecker UP-X251
6) Bird on Signal (very LOUD bird)
7) BN green hoppers
8) Conrail CoilSHIELD CR 623636
AMTRAK ENGINE 156, 40TH
ANNIVERSARY, TEXAS EAGLE, MAY 29, 2011
- Amtrak locomotive #156, one of Amtrak's 'Heritage/Annivesary'
locomotives, headed the northbound Texas Eagle at Little Rock, Arkansas
on Sunday night, May 29, 2011 at midnight. Here are some photos and a
video:
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS, MAY 31, 2011
- Here's 3 trains passing Union Station in Little Rock, AR on Tuesday,
May 31, 2011.
Included today:
1) LRWN 1544, 1542
2) UP 9815, 1614, 1621
3) KCS 4590, 4028
DRGW LOCOMOTIVE 1445 NORTH LITTLE
ROCK, JUNE 1, 2011
- UP 1445, one of the last remaining DRGW GP40s still in DRGW paint and
in very nice condition, arrived in North Little Rock, Arkansas June 1,
2011 on the MNPNL. According to a UP employee who gave me the heads up,
it looks like1445 will be getting a face lift at the Jenks Shops here
in North Little Rock. He wanted me to get a photo of it before any
changes are made. UP/DGRW 1900 was also here up to a few weeks ago and
used in local service. It's now in local service in the Fort Worth,
Texas area. (Ken Ziegenbein-thundertrain@gmail.com)
RARE, NON-UP LOCOMOTIVES LITTLE
ROCK, JUNE 3, 2011 - Friday, June 3, 2011 at
North Little Rock, AR. Lots of non-UP and rare locomotives today,
including:
1) Former DGNO 3812 - GP38-3
2) CEFX 2630 - SW 1500
3) CITX 6352 - GP38-2
4) CEFX 2575 - SW 1500
5) DGNO 3800 - GP38-3
6) CN 5769, 5640 - SD75I
7) UP 1929 - GP60
8) GMTX 2157 - GP38-2
9) MKT Green hoppers 553, 585
10) MoPac red work caboose 13064 used in yard service
11) Distant Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar
SPECIAL WINE DINNER AT ASHLEYS
RESTAURANT LITTLE ROCK, JUNE 4, 2011
- Here's a few photos from an Ashley's Wine Dinner event on Saturday,
June 4, 2011 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Seen in various photos are
Debbie, Nick, Jessica, Sarah, Michelle, Stephen and myself (Ken).
KITTENS, JUNE 5, 2011
- Here's 2 short cat videos, one of an unnamed gray kitten, recently
rescued by a friend of mine, in a room of my house and the other my 10+
year old cat Tigger reacting to kittens squeaking in the other room on
Sunday, June 5, 2011.
TRAINS, LITTLE ROCK JUNE 5, 2011
- New Ferromex units plus other trains in Little Rock, Arkansas June 5,
2011, a Sunday.
Inlcuded:
1) Ferromex 4037, 4042, 4043, 4697
2) UP 6550, 7411, 7840, 5860, 5783
3) Sunrise and pretty sunset
UP STEAM ENGINE 844,
BALD KNOB ARKANSAS JUNE 7, 2011
- In June of 2011, Union Pacific's famous steam locomotive No. 844
pulled a special passenger train into Arkansas from Missouri called the
Little Rock Express. This train was routed through Arkansas because of
special online voting that took place last winter, with residents of
Missouri and Arkansas having more votes than 3 other routes, including
the Chicago area. It was called "You Route the Steam" and the Little
Rock Express got over 76,000 votes.
On Tuesday, June 7,
this train was on display in Bald Knob, Arkansas, about an hour north
of Little Rock. It was to go from Bald Knob to North Little Rock on
June 8, with Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe in the cab of 844.
Here
are some pictures I took in Bald Knob, including regular concession car
workers Penny Braunschweig and Mary Nystrom, widow of our late friend
Lynn Nystrom. (Ken Ziegenbein)
UP STEAM 844 NIGHT SHOTS JUNE 8,
2011
- Night photos June 8, 2011 taken by myself, Ken Ziegenbein, in North
Little Rock, Arkansas while UP steam locomotive 844 and its train was
on display. It was supposed to be on display all day the next day,
Thursday June 9, but Union Pacific had to move the day the train leaves
to June 9, so it was not on display the next day. This change of
schedule was caused by potential flooding on the Missouri River in
Missouri and Nebraska on its return trip and if it stayed one more day,
some tracks in those states may be flooded. So I made sure to get some
night shots tonight.
UP STEAM 844, NORTH LITTLE ROCK,
JUNE 8, 2011
- Here are some photos of UP steam engine 844 arriving in North Little
Rock, AR on Wednesday June 8, 2011, plus other trains and the crowd of
people.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS JUNE 12, 2011
- A couple of trains at Little Rock, Sunday June 12, 2011 including the
daily YNL75 Pine Bluff local, which usually has 5-10 locomotives being
transferred between yards in North Little Rock and Pine Bluff and over
130 cars. Today it had 8 locomotives, several not runing.
Included today:
1) CSX 7872
2) UP 5091, 4924, 2326, 1959, 2061, 2303, 5175, 1587
3) Ferromex 4681
UP/DRGW 1342 NORTH LITTLE ROCK,
JUNE 15,2011
- UP 1342, one of the last DGRW Rio Grande black and yellow units,
arrived in North Little Rock, AR on Wednesday, June 15, 2011 on the
North Platte, NE to NLR mixed freight, MNPNL-13 to be overhauled and
possibly repainted UP yellow at Jenks Shops. It is seen here crossing
the Pershing Ave overpass, taken from Railroad Avenue in North Little
Rock.
UP 1983, 1342 PLUS FULL MOON AND
SAUCER WAITRESSES, JUNE 16, 2011
- UP 1983, Western Pacific Heritage, and UP/DRGW 1342, a former
D&RGW locomotive in North Little Rock for overhaul, on Thursday
June 16. 2011. I also included a photo of 3 Flying Saucer waitresses
taken this week and my full Moon shots the night of June 15.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS, JUNE 19, 2011
- Sunday, June 19, 2011 at Union Station in Little Rock, AR.
It was a sunny, hot day with temps in the mid 90s.
Included today:
1) UP 2251, 8473, 4473, 5283, 4896, 7176, 7911, 2238, 4617, 626, 1587,
2415, 4323, 4223
2) Ferromex 4664
3) UP/SP 6373
4) GT blue hi-cube boxcars
5) Minnie Mouse towel
6) UPS expedited short train
7) DRGW 310303 special type of gondola
8) CIRF 4178 lumber car
9) NYC 223113 Conrail boxcar
UP 2002 OLYMPIC UNIT-CNW-BNSF
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, JUNE 20, 2011
- Monday, June 20, 2011 in North Little Rock, AR, I caught the
following locomotives: UP 2002, the Salt Lake City Olympic unit - BNSF
9789 in executive colors - UP/SP 1476 - UP/DRGW 1342 in original DRGW
paint - UP/CNW 6726 in original CNW green/yellow and Operation
Lifesaver markings.
KCS-OTHERS LITTLE ROCK, JUNE 22,
2011 - A few trains in Little Rock on Wednesday,
June 22, 2011, including BNSF, CSX and KCS power.
Included today:
1) KCS 3942, 3947
2) UP 5096, 4312, 2299
3) CSX 7851 in clean, shiny paint
4) BNSF 5137, 4608
5) Sun and clouds with shadowed train
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE 22, LITTLE
ROCK JUNE 14, 2011
- Amtrak 22, the northbound Texas Eagle, at Union Station in Little
Rock, Arkansas Thursday night/Friday morning, June 23-24,
2011.
Another rather large load of passengers getting on. John Mills, former
Amtrak employee and activist, was watching.
LITTLEROCK TRAINS, JUNE 25, 2011
- A nice, warm Saturday evening in Little Rock with clear skies and
soft breezes. So what do you think I did? Go on a date? Go to a nice
eating establishment with friends and take in a movie? Go to a party?
Go to a concert? NO....I did what every honest railfan does....I went
to the train station and got some evening photos of trains! (However, I
did have a great time with a great friend earlier in the day, and no,
she wasn't a railfan - lol)
Included today, June 25, 2011:
1) UP 9555, 9456
2) PBRX 200612 special boxcars
3) Dove
4) Sunset over tracks and Arkansas River
5) Weeds in twilight
TRAINS, INCLUDING RSSX 35 LOCO,
NORTH LITTLE ROCK JUNE 27, 2011
- I found this apparently newly painted RSSX locomotive, No. 35, in
North Little Rock, AR Monday June 27, 2010. I couldn't get
any
information on this particular Rail Switching Service unit. Also there
was a long string of new WSOX Wind Bay Sand hoppers, including No.
804809. (Ken Ziegenbein photos)
FINAL RUN OF LARRY PHARRIS,
AMTRAK ENGINEER, JUNE 30, 2011
- The final run of Amtrak engineer Larry Pharris on Thursday morning,
June 30, 2011 at 3:44 a.m. on Amtrak No. 21, the southbound Texas Eagle
from St Louis to Little Rock, AR. His family was on board and many well
wishers were trackside. Here are some photos and a Youtube video of his
final train arriving. Mr. Pharris began working for the Missouri
Pacific Railroad in 1978 and worked for them for 10 years, then
starting his tenure at Amtrak November 2, 1988 for 23 years. (All the
following photos were taken by me, Ken Ziegenbein)
TRAINS-AMTRAK, LITTLE ROCK JULY
7, 2011
- derailment north of UP's North Little Rock yards last night
(Wednesday night, July 6) caused delays to both Texas Eagles today,
July 7. Northbound 22 was at Union Station in Little Rock and
was
turned to become southbound 21 at the station in Little Rock.
Southbound 21 was turned at Walnut Ridge, AR to become northbound 22.
Passengers were bused between the two trains. This from Richard, one of
the Little Rock Amtrak agents. There were also thunderstorms in the
area. Here are some photos and a link to a Youtube movie I made of the
turned 21 leaving at 11:24 a.m. plus a couple of freights, including
KCS Belle units.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS, FLOWERS AND
DINNER GUESTS JULY 9, 10, 2011 - Here's a few
trains passing Union Station in Little Rock on Saturday and Sunday,
July 9 and 10, 2011.
Included are:
1) Dinner friends with roses in ear
2) Tube-type flowers at Union Station
3) UP 9590, 9236, 2209, 4931, 1628, 1616, 6845, 4215, 6938 Centennial
on display, 4141 Bush Unit parked, 4654
4) UP/SP 6270
5) Ferromex new and shiny 4049 on Amtrak siding, up close and personal
6) LRWN 1542
7) MKT 572 green hopper
8) Ashley Drew and Northern ALM 5377
9) Plywood loads
10) MP 818085 airplane parts car
11) MP 522788 and 723969 hoppers, rare because of no graffiti
12) CNW 74503 green gondola
13) u24x55 22596980 beams
14) PTTX 142259 small pipes
15) BN 28618 green boxcar
16) Car or truck frames
17) NAHX 65607 blue Rock Island hopper
TRAINS, TROLLEY AND VISITOR FROM
TEXAS JULY 12, 2011
- Tuesday, July 12, 2011. I had a visitor from Texas, Matthew Dittert,
who was on his way to visit a relative in another state. We went to
Union Station, saw Union Pacific's Jenks shops with UP 4141, the Bush
Library locomotive, and rode one of the streetcars. Here are a few
photos. Mr. Dittert is a railfan like I am, and any railfan who passes
through central Arkansas on I-30 or I-40, send me an email a few days
in advance and I'll try to show you around as well. (Ken
Ziegenbein - thundertrain@gmail.com)
UP SPECIAL WITH DRGW
HERITAGE 1989 NORTH LITTLE ROCK, JULY 14, 2011
- On Thursday, July 14, 2011, UP 1989, the DRGW heritage unit, pulled
an 11-car UP special from Wagoner, OK to North Little Rock and return.
Here you see it on the Van Buren Wye in North Little Rock, Arkansas on
its return trip. There's a link to a video of the train leaving with
1989's horn blowing for the 13th Street crossing. Thanks to fellow
railfans John C. Jones (UP's local photographer) and John Hodkin, Jr.
for the heads up.
CAMP
ROBINSON SPUR BEING DISMANTLED NORTH LITTLE ROCK, JULY 20, 2011
- On
July 20, 2011, Union Pacific's Camp Robinson spur track in North Little
Rock, AR is being dismantled with the rails to be taken up between now
and August 25. Here's a few pictures I got on Monday, July 18 of the
4-mile track that goes from UP's main Van Buren Sub track to Camp
Robinson/Camp Pike in North Little Rock. This line's only purpose has
always been serving the Army/National Guard at Camp Robinson, which is
now home of the 39th Infantry. It was used extensively during World War
II for military equipment moves and troop trains.
The
last time a train was on this line was in 1991 during the first Gulf
War in Iraq, when the Army used it to move various carloads of military
equipment from Camp Robinson to the UP's main lines. Following is a
story from the August 31, 1990 Arkansas Gazette, taken from the October
1990 "Arkansas Railroader", which I edited at the time:
"The seldom used Union Pacific spur connecting U. P.s main
line
from North Little Rock to Van Buren, AR with the Camp Robinson National
Guard reserve in North Little Rock has been upgraded so that it can
once again handle trains. The four-mile line is just east of Camp
Robinson Road and goes into Camp Robinson at Remount Road. Union
Pacific spent abut $200,000 on the improvements, including 2,600 new
ties and street crossing improvements. Improvements inside the camp
itself were made by the military. The rest of the improvements were
finished around August 1, 1990. The improvements were made well before
the Persian Gulf crisis materialized, but at least now the tracks can
support heavy rail shipments of equipment to and from Camp Robinson in
case that becomes necessary. (Back in May 1990, your editor (Ken Z) saw
a short train on this spur consisting of a UP engine, a gondola and a
flatcar with an armored tank on it - the first time I'd ever saw a
train on that track). (Arkansas Gazette, August 31, 1990 by John
Woodruff)."
LITTLE
ROCK TRAINS, JULY 21, 2011 - Twilight train
photos at Union Station in Little Rock, Thursday, July 21, 2011.
Included are:
1) Rabbit at Amtrak station with Superliner
2) Purple-haired monster with red tongue
3) UP 2460, 4276, 4789, 1627, 1630, 9704, 4791, 4409, 1621, 1619, 1611
4) MKT 535 green Katy hopper
5) DRGW 15502 original Rio Grande hopper
6) Sunset over tracks
BNSF
OIL TRAIN, NORTH LITTLE ROCK AR, JULY 22, 2011 - A
detoured very long BNSF unit chemical tankcar train is seen heading
west on Union Pacific's Van Buren Sub in North Little Rock, Arkansas on
Friday, July 22, 1011. This website also has a link to a Youtube video
of the entire train passing me. Heading the train were BNSF 4764, BNSF
Warbonnet8298 and BNSF 4380. It took 4 minutes for it to pass.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS, JULY 23, 2011
- Saturday, July 23, 2011 at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas. Hot
and humid again with temperatures in the upper 90s, although we got a
half inch of rain in the afternoon in severe thunderstorms.It was a CSX
day.
Included:
1) CSX 528, 481, 7819, 648
2) UP 8021, 2074, 7677, 4149
3) CN/GTW 126005 Grand Trunk Western boxcar
4) ICG 680103 Illinois Central Gulf boxcar
5) MMMX hoppers probably going to the 3M plant in south Little Rock
6) Helicopter and train
7) Railfans
8) Bird feather
9) UP inspection truck
10) UP weed sprayer
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE NO.21 LITTLE
ROCK JULY 24, 2011
- A 4 1/2 hour late Amtrak Texas Eagle, No. 21, at Little Rock, AR on
Sunday morning, July 24, 2011 Here's a few photos of the train arriving
in Little Rock about 7:20 a.m. showing lots of people getting off and
getting on. One reason for its lateness was a scheduled detour in
Illinois due to track work.
PURPLE-HAIRED LADY HOBO-SMOKING
TANKCAR AXLE-LITTLE ROCK, JULY 24, 2011
- Here's a few trains on a dark, cloudy day in Little Rock, AR, Sunday
July 24, 2011. An interesting day to say the least. I called
in a
smoking axle on a tankcar to the UP Emergency number, a friendly UP
Special Agent came by to chat, and a group of modern-day hobos headed
by a purple-haired nice lady with nose rings came by and talked about
their hobby.
Included today:
1) UP 4486, 3981, 3925, 3861, 5386, 2344, 7436
2) NS 6758, 9065
3) New Richardson tankcars
4) DOWX 6646 white tankcar with smoking axle
5) MKT 502 green hopper
6) NOKL 3209 Golden Connection gondola
7) ALM 9895 Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar
8) UP Special Agent
9) Purple-haired hobo with nose rings (really)
RSSX 3380-UPY 2633 NORTH LITTLE
ROCK JULY 26, 2011 - Tuesday, July 26, 2011 at
North Little Rock, AR. Two special locomotives and a couple of
streetcar photos.
Included:
1) RSSX 3380
2) UPY 2633, Genset probably heading to Texas
3) Streetcars
TWO ASHLEY DREW &
NORTHERN BOXCARS TOGETHER-OLYMPIC UNIT 2002 N LITTLE ROCK
- TWO Ashley Drew & Northern boxcars hooked together in a
freight
in North Little Rock, Friday, July 28, 2011. It's rare enough to see
ADN boxcars at any time, but having two next to each other is very
rare. Also, my timing was perfect to see UP 2002, one of the Salt Lake
City Olympic units, as it was being moved for servicing. Also saw a
Katy green hopper, MKT 595 and a load of small green pipes.
Included today:
1) Ashley Drew & Northern boxcars ADN 9711 and ALM 9083
2) MKT 595 green Katy hopper
3) UP 2002, Olympic unit
4) UP 2046
5) PTTX 252165 load of small green pipes
NEWLY WEDS ON PLATFORM-OTHER
TRAINS LITTLE ROCK JULY 30, 2011 - Saturday,
July 30, 2011 was an interesting day at Union Station in Little Rock,
AR. There was a 7-locomotive (none of which were Union Pacific),
northbound freight and a wedding party taking pictures on the Amtrak
platform, complete with several groom-kissing-bride photos. Plus other
trains.
Included:
1) UP 8828, 9559, 8228
2) NS 9349, 8923, 9838, 8875
3) CSX 393
4) BNSF 564, 580
5) Bird
6) HLSC 2874 Hampton Lumber Sales car
7) FGLK 26300 Boston & Maine boxcar
8) SMIX 9032 green hopper
9) New TILX hoppers, including 328137
10) Baby girl
11) Wedding photos at trackside on Amtrak platform
12) Lonely weed next to coal train
Included:
1) UP 8828, 9559, 8228
2) NS 9349, 8923, 9838, 8875
3) CSX 393
4) BNSF 564, 580
5) Bird
6) HLSC 2874 Hampton Lumber Sales car
7) FGLK 26300 Boston & Maine boxcar
8) SMIX 9032 green hopper
9) New TILX hoppers, including 328137
10) Baby girl
11) Wedding photos at trackside on Amtrak platform
12) Lonely weed next to coal train
TRAINS AND STORMS, LITTLE ROCK
JULY 31, 2011
- A stormy Sunday afternoon, July 31, 2011 at the station in Little
Rock, Arkansas. As you know, I like taking pictures of trains in the
rain and today fit the bill. It also reinforces the idea that trains
run rain or shine.
Included:
1) Storm clouds and rain with movies
2) UP 4424, 5916, 7013
3) CSX 621
4) KCS 4056, 4703 Belle units
OLD MOPAC CABOOSE ON TRAIN-LITTLE
ROCK AUGUST 1, 2011
- Monday, August 1, 2011. Another hot day in store for Arkansas with
highs above 100. Of interest today is that I saw two Missouri Pacific
cabooses in North Little Rock, one that had been restored and repainted
in 2009 and used in yard service and one that had arrived to be
renovated and repainted.
Included:
1) UP 5059
2) DRGW gondola 31030 with Rio Grande emblem
3) CEFX 85861'Fat Face' graffiti
4) Missouri Pacific work cabooses 13894 (to be restored) and 13064 (was
restored in 2009)
RIO GRANDE UNIT-MOPAC CABOOSE
13864-AUGUST 2, 2011
- Found old Missouri Pacific work caboose 13864 and UP/Rio Grande 1900
coupled to each other today, August 2, 2011 in North Little Rock,
Arkansas, along with LLPX locomotive LLPX 2273. They were heading a
short mixed freight, destination unknown. I had to take these from my
car and the lighting wasn't good, but I thought the scene rare enough
to warrant posting.
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE 22 LATE AT
LITTLE ROCK, AUGUST 5, 2011
- A rare daylight northbound Texas Eagle, Amtrak No. 22, arrived in
Little Rock, Arkansas at 11:17 a.m. on Friday, August 5, 2011, 12 hours
late. The lateness was due to the train being rerouted around a freight
wreck in east Texas near Mineola the day before that was caused by the
excessive heat in that area with temperatures around 110 degrees. We at
Little Rock also had a record hot day on August 3 when the temperature
hit 114 degrees. (Ken Ziegenbein photos, thundertrain@gmail.com)
AMTRAK SETOUT SLEEPER WITH AR STATE LEGISLATORS, AUGUST 7, 2011 - NOT
YET FINISHED
SOO RED 6052 NORTH
LITTLE ROCK, AUGUST 18, 2011
- I ran across these 3 locomotives in North Little Rock, Arkansas,
Thursday August 18, 2011: SOO 6052, Canadian Pacific CP 9611 and UP
5151. I don't remember seeing a red SOO unit here in many years.
VARIOUS TRAINS LITTLE ROCK,
AUGUST 19, 2011 - Various trains at Little Rock,
Arkansas Thursday and Friday, August 18 and 19, 2011.
Included:
1) UP 9531, 9822, 2416, 5949, 6054
2) CSX 4821, 2748, 408
3) SP unpatched 9755
4) CEFX 1038 blue unit
5) NS 9374, 6973
6) SOO Line boxcar SOO 16846
7) MKT 553 hopper
8) MP 641689 Buzzsaw gondola
9) MP 271717 UP hi-cube boxcar
10) DME 51017 hopper
TRAINS, CLOUDS, A HAWK AND 2
PRETTY LADIES AT LUNCH, LITTLE ROCK AUGUST 21, 2011
- Here's a few photos from my day at Union Station in Little Rock,
Arkansas on Sunday, August 21, 2011, plus a photo of two nice ladies I
took to lunch and a large hawk that captured and ate a rabbit at the
station (missed a train to get the shot of the hawk).
Included today:
1) UP 7099, 8038, 1631, 1635, 1620, 1633, 9396
2) BNSF 6714, 4378
3) LLPX 2203
4) Halloween graffiti
5) Pretty ladies at lunch
6) Hawk with a hidden rabbit for lunch
7) MKT 515 green hopper
8) New shiny tank cars
9) Old watering device at station
10) BN 621257 green flat car
11) End of train coil cars
12) Dark clouds
13) Guru man graffiti
TRAINS, STREETCARS, SUNSETS AND
RAIN, LITTLE ROCK AUGUST 22, 23 AND 24, 2011
- We in Arkansas were blessed with off and on rain and thunderstorms
over the 3 days Monday, August 22 through Wednesday, August 24, 2011.
As those of you who know me can attest, I like taking pictures of
trains in nasty weather and in difficult lighting conditions, like
sunsets and sunrises. I tried some 'artsy' shots this time, including
viewing a middle school football game between two freight cars, having
a locomotive backlit by the setting sun, and a few others. I also have
a few streetcar shots in dark, rainy contritions. Anyway,
hope
you enjoy some of these.
Included:
1) Various rain scenes
2) UP/Rio Grande 1344
4) UP 9813, 9632, 4280, 4756
4) HLCX 7020 (former BN)
5) Streetcars in the rain
6) Wrecked tank car on a flatcar TILX xx380
7) TSE 5089 boxcar
8) Football game and fans at field across from Union Station
9) RCLX 169128 yellow CNW hopper
10) Warmly lit Union Station at sunset
11) Large coils
AMTRAK MISSOURI RIVER RUNNER,
INDEPENDENCE MO, SEPTEMBER 3, 2011
- I was visiting Independence, Missouri for the annual SantaCalGonDays
huge festival on September 3, 2011 when I decided to visit the historic
Truman Depot, which is an Amtrak stop for the Missouri River Runner
trains between St Louis and Kansas City. I caught Amtrak 311, the
westbound train, at 2:28 p.m. There was a strong thunderstorm moving in
and I have a video of the train leaving with lightning and thunder,
plus other photos of that area. Union Pacific was also doing track work
near the station.
RAINBOW, TRAINS LITTLE ROCK,
SEPTEMBER 10, 2011
- Evening trains, dark clouds, sunset, rainbow, special effects at
Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas Saturday, September 10, 2011
(9/10/11). Of special interest is an old Union Pacific caboose (UP
24565) at the end of a train.
Included:
1) Canadian Pacific CP 8551
2) UP original caboose 24565
3) UP 4891, 1634
4) MKT 586 green hopper
5) Three heavy-hauler flatcars
6) Dark clouds, Sunset, rainbow
UP 4141, BUSH LOCOMOTIVE, JENKS
SHOPS NORTH LITTLE ROCK, SEPTEMBER 11, 2011
- UP 4141, the Bush unit, at Jenks Shops in North Little Rock, AR on
Sunday, September 11, 2011. According to Matt Holman of
Spring,
Texas, "the 4141 is going to the Texas Reds Festival in Bryan, Texas-
normally they get a Heritage Unit and apparently the organizers
requested the 4141 this year- the festival is on October 7-8 in
downtown Bryan...." The Texas Reds Festival's web page is
http://tr.blog.bryantx.gov/ I have not independently verified
this possible move yet. (Ken Ziegenbein photos)
UP 4141 READIED FOR A MOVE FROM
JENKS, SEPTEMBER 16, 2011
- UP 4141, the George Bush Library special locomotive, was released
from Jenks Shops in North Little Rock, AR (where it was displayed for 2
1/2 years) today, Friday September 16, 2011. It is seen here in the
service track area of the UP yards in North Little Rock about 430 p.m.
in the rain. Destination is probably Texas for a festival in Bryan in
early October, but I don't have which train it'll be on or any time
line.
UP 4141 AT UP'.S NORTH LITTLE
ROCK YARD, SEPTEMBER 17, 2011
- UP 4141, the Bush unit, Saturday morning at North Little Rock being
serviced. I understand it will run to Pine Bluff today on one of the
locals today and then to Texas later this week.
UP 4141 UPDATE, SERVICE TRACK,
BEING SENT TO ILLINOIS, SEPTEMBER 17, 2011
- UP 4141, the George Bush Library unit, was being readied for a trip
north to Chicago/Proviso, Illinois Saturday, September 17, 2011 in
North Little Rock, Arkansas. It'll be on the QNLCH-18. Here's a few
photos of it, along with a colorful lashup of other locomotives
including UP 1344, UP/Denver & Rio Grande 1370, UP/SP 2047 and
GATX
2680. On one shot of the Bush unit, you can see a nice
reflection
in standing water from recent rains. (Thanks to John C. Jones for the
update)
INTERESTING COLLECTION OF
ROADNAMES LITTLE ROCK, AR, SEPTEMBER 17, 2011 -
Interesting collection of locomotive roadnames today, Saturday
September 17, 2011 at the Union Stat
Included today:
1) UP 4141, Bush locomotive
2) UP 1344, 4903, 9799, 9721, 7516, 4965, 5603, 7032, 5927, 4613
3) UPY 157
4) NS 9928
5) Ferromex 4657, 4651
6) CSX 8024
7) KCS Belle 4101
8) ARMN/UP reefer 111170
9) Graffiti
10) HS 30955 Columbus & Greenville boxcar
11) HS 6559 Corinth Counce Railroad Company
12) CRLE 10458 green boxcar
13) Loads of plywood
SIX TRAINS IN 1 AND A HALF HOURS,
LITTLE ROCK, SEPTEMBER 18, 2011
- A good number of trains in a short time at Union Station in Little
Rock, Arkansas with 6 trains in 1 hour and 33 minutes between 4:33 p.m.
and 5:50 p.m.. Roadnames today: UP, KCS, Ferromex, NS, CSX.
Included:
1) UP 7907, 2268, 4228, 9388, 7653, 8030
2) Ferromex 4644
3) CSX 7533
4) NS 2726
5) KCS 4547, 4327
6) Closeup of wheels on steel
7) HS 30971 Columbus & Greenville boxcar
8) HS 30840 Columbus & Greenville boxcar
9) HS 2xxxx Marquette, Tomahawk & Western RR Company boxcar
10) HS 30867 New Orleans Public Belt RR boxcar
11) HS 30521 New Orleans Public Belt RR boxcar
12) Where's WALDO @ Jenks Shops?
BNSF TRACKAGE RIGHTS TRAIN LITTLE
ROCK, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011 - BNSF trackage rights
train passing Union Station in Little Rock, Wednesday September 21,
2011 near sunset.
Included:
1) BNSF 4401, 5077, 7791
2) NS 9675
3) High end flatcars in the sunset
4) Shiny rails in the sunset
5) The sunset itself
LOTS OF TRAINS-33
LOCOMOTIVES-LITTLE ROCK SEPTEMBER 25, 2011
- Plenty of trains this afternoon, Sunday September 25, 2011 at Little
Rock, Arkansas. I counted 33 locomotives. Included today:
1) DGRW/UP 1900
2) CSX 44,7704, 8024, 7305, 7580
3) BNSF 5314, 4504
4)
UP 4821, 6892, 6184, 6470, 5732, 4895, 1623, 1629, 690, 1636, 1642,
4958, 2281, 9612, 9686, 5927, 9331, 7905, 5596, 6788, 5084, 9818, 8005,
4483, 4604
5) C&O Chessie hopper 604815
6) Canadian Pacific beaver trademark
7) BNSF unit empty oil train heading for North Dakota
8) Boy watching trains
9) UP 450887 boxcar
10) WSOR 102009, 101553 Wisconsin & Southern boxcars
11) Orange containers
12) "The Doctor Crew" graffiti
13) Red lipped lady graffiti
14) WGCX 601 boxcar
15) ARMN 111226 refrigerator car
16) "Soute Duck Kosha" graffiti
17) UP track vehicle
BRIGHT SUNSHINE, TRAINS LITTLE
ROCK, SEPTEMBER28, 2011
-Tuesday and Wednesday, September 27 and 28, 2011 in Little Rock,
Arkansas. We finally got some bright, sunny days here in Arkansas with
deep blue skies. Arkansas has been on the dividing line between
severely dry weather in Texas and cooler, rainy weather north of here.
The NWS office in North Little Rock was 6.09 inches above normal for
the year as of today, September 28 (having just over 40 inches so far).
I will visit my hometown in Texas in a few weeks and will see first
hand how dry it is.
Included today:
1) UP 5140, 9713, 5572 (very dirty), 8220, 3961, 9828, 4873,
8744, 4038, 4816, 7720, 9491, 4231, 1974, 1623
2) CSX 8854, 9004, 5357, 8749
3) LRWN 1541, 1542, 1544
4) HS 9844 Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar
5) ATW 75048 Laurinburg & Southern boxcar
6) ATW 75054 Laurinburg & Southern boxcar
7) GNNR 19478 boxcar with xxx book grafitti
8) EEC 1065 boxcar
9) CNW/UP 156194 boxcar built 10/77
10) HS 30946 Columbus & Greenville boxcar
11) SMIX 9525 Santa Fe boxcar
12) HS 30961 Columbus & Greenville boxcar
13) "Papa Been Smooth Since The Days Of Under Roof" graffiti
14) HS 30916 Columbus & Greenville boxcar
15) HS 30631 Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar
16) "Frog Cowboy" graffiti
17) NYC 221475 blue boxcar
18) GATX 31777 pink Potash hopper
DEEP BLUE SKIES, TRAINS AND OLD
ROCK ISLAND BRIDGE DEDICATION LITTLE ROCK, SEPTEMBER 29, 30, 2011
- Another day with deep blue skies and cooler temperatures at Little
Rock, AR. The UP yellow matches the blue skies perfectly.
Also
today, the old Rock Island bridge that crosses the Arkansas River was
dedicated as a walking bridge connecting the Clinton Presidential
Library in Little Rock with Verizon Arena in North Little Rock. I've
included a couple photos of that renovated bridge. These photos were
taken Thursday, September 29 and Friday, September 30, 2011.
Included today:
1) NS 6672
2) UP 8562, 8057, 5211, 4486, 6468, 6009, 5663, 4831
3) LRWN 1541, 1542
4) GACX 7405 hopper
5) CSXT Chessie hi-cube boxcars 150593 and 180681
6) Yellow fern leaf
7) Large spools of cable
8) Red and yellow gon covers
9) MVRY 76030 gondola
10) ARMN 110930
11) CNW 156086 boxcar
12) DCLX Census May 15 Canada hopper
13) TRLX 24411 new black tank cars
14) Auto or truck frames
15) Rock Island bridge
TWO KCS LOCOMOTIVES PASSING, HIGH
SCHOOL GIRL GETTING PHOTOS OF HERSELF TRACKSIDE, LITTLE ROCK, OCTOBER
2, 2011
- I caught fifteen trains passing Union Station in Little Rock, AR
Sunday, October 2, 2011, 14 of which were in the afternoon. (The one I
got in the morning was early, then I left to go to church and do other
things). Times of the trains were: 8:33am, 145pm, 2:05pm, 2:21pm,
2:50pm, 3:08pm, 3:19pm, 3:28pm, 3:36pm, 4:13pm, 4:54pm, 4:56pm, 5:03pm,
5:29pm, and 5:35pm. As you all know, Union Pacific is the main railroad
in Little Rock, but today you wouldn't know it at times....locomotive
roadnames seen today were: UP, KCS (one 'Belle' one grey), CSX, BNSF
(one 'warbonnet'), and NS. Also, there was a high school senior girl
there having her picture taken by her family with a train in the
background. No, the did not get on the tracks.
Also, a
rare passing of two KCS locomotives in Little Rock, KCS 4579 passing
KCS 4689 about 5 p.m. And, BNSF 4807 also passed KCS 4689 just after
the other train did.
Included today:
1) CSX 5255, 4008, 9036, 7654
2) UP 3818, 5885, 5588, 6811, 6881, 7274, 7808, 5179, 5101, 4354, 1632,
4110, 8476, 6519
3) KCS 4689, 4579
4) BNSF 4807
5) SF 608 Warbonnet
6) NS 9821, 9137, 2616
7) UP/SP 6160
8) UP hi-rail truck
9) High school girl getting photos of herself as a train passed
10) Ken (me) with his white had a Thomas the Tank Engine pillow
11) Red and white tank cars with dark blue sky
12) 'Teddy bear holdup' graffiti
13) BNSF unit crude oil train from North Dakota
14) Wild berries
15) UP K-9 police car and agent
16) Music from a Union Station ballroom I could hear trackside
TRAINS, A ROSE AND A BARMAID IN
COSTUME, LITTLE ROCK, OCTOBER 8, 2011 - A few
trains, flowers and a barmaid today, Saturday, October 8, 2011, at
Little Rock, Arkansas.
Included:
1) CSX 729, 4564
2) UP 7367, 8604, 3931, 2442
3) TILX 253627 tanks with blue crests
4) Blue/yellow racks
5) Pink Potash hoppers
6) New tankcars built September 2011
7) Conrail boxcar CR 276124
8) Rose under a blue sky
9) Barmaid in costume
NUMEROUS TRAINS LITTLE ROCK,
SUNDAY OCTOBER 9, 2011
- Lots of trains today passing Little Rock's Union Station between 8
a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Some rare 'fallen-flag' freight cars and
a
southbound train using the Amtrak siding with UP/Rio Grande 1900 in the
consist. Also, UP 909953 potable water car and Greenville &
Northern boxcar HS 30051, both rarely seen by me.
Included today:
1) UP 7118, 5863, 4635, 9141, 5151, 9551, 8045, 6573, 5606, 6815, 1929
2) UP/Rio Grande 1900
3) NS 8422
4) TILX 32851 new hopper built September 2011
5) WCOR 5021 boxcar
6) Norfolk & Western hopper NW 182806
7) ARMN 757402 old style reefer
8) ARMN 110892 newer reefer
9) Columbus & Greenville boxcar HS 30950
10) UP 909953 green water tank car
11) Greenville & Northern boxcar HS 30051
12) Lonely weed trackside
13) CP Rail hopper CP 344776
14) CEFX 54409 hopper
TEXAS TRAINS, INCLUDING AAPRCO
PRIVATE CAR SPECIAL, OCTOBER 15-17, 2011
- Various trains in Texas October 15-17, 2011, including the private
car AAPRCO train with 20 passenger cars going through Brenham, Texas on
October 17.
Included:
1) UP 7377, 3798 (New Ulm, Texas)
2) GMTX 2609 (New Ulm, Texas)
3) UP 8580, 9551, 3984, 3865, 7685 (Sealy, Texas)
4) BNSF 4910, 4834 (Sealy, Texas)
5) NS 9745 (Brenham, Texas)
6) BNSF 8210 (Brenham, Texas)
7) AMTK 71, 88, 166 (Brenham, Texas)
8) Consist of the AAPRCO private passenger car train is next to the
photos of that event below
9) Santa Fe Cafe, Brenham
THOSE MIDNIGHT TRAINS IN ARKANSAS
OCTOBER 21, 2011
- I thought I'd document both of Amtrak's Texas Eagles at Little Rock
one night and I did so the night of October 20/ early morning of Oct
21, 2011. I call it "Those Midnight Trains in Arkansas." Amtrak 22, the
northbound Eagle, arrived at 12:29 a.m. and No. 21, the southbound,
arrived 34 minutes early at 2:31 a.m. A good crowd was on hand to
board both trains, especially No. 22 with 36 boarding here
(there
have been nights when more than 100 get on here). Total on board the
train after the train left Little Rock was 148 (119 coach, 29 sleeper).
Many more were supposed to get on in St Louis before the train reached
Chicago.
Amtrak 21, the southbound Eagle, had 97 on
board as the train left Little Rock (88 coach and 9 sleeper). Again,
many more would get on the train before reaching its final destination
in San Antonio, Texas. I put the consist of each train below the photos.
TRAINS, LITTLE ROCK OCTOBER 28,
2011
- A couple of trains today, Friday October 28, 2011, at Little Rock,
AR, including the yard service locomotive UP/DRG 1900, a long
string of CN boxcars and other things.
Included:
1) UP 4912, 1929, 1644, 1645,
2) UP/Rio Grande 1900
3) SP 9755
4) Coil being pulled by a truck between the tracks.
5) Long string of solid CN boxcars
6) Several cars of wood
7) DME 5706 boxcar
8) WYX 5819 black hopper
9) IANR 10436 boxcar
TRAINS, LITTLE ROCK OCTOBER 30,
2011 - Trains and streetcars in Little Rock,
Saturday October 29 and Sunday October 30, 2011.
Included:
1) C.A.T. streetcars 408 and 412
2) IC 1033
3) UP Genset 2643
4) UP 9042, 1637, 1636, 6054, 6538
5) CSX 8181
6) MKT 570 green hopper
7) Norfolk and Western NW 868315 boxcar
8) CN boxcar string
9) Montana RailLink boxcar MRL 21131
LITTLE
ROCK TRAINS, SATURDAY NOVEMBER 5, 2011 - Only
got 2 trains today and they were passing each other. Didn't have time
to get more.
Included today:
1) Hawk
2) UP 1620, 1653, 1650, 5985, 1647
3) UP/SP 6215
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS AND SUNSET,
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2011
- The clouds began to break late in the afternoon on Sunday, November
6, 2011 at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas, so I decided to get
some train photos and sunset photos. BNSF/Santa Fe 683 with a faded
number 683 was on one train and I could not see any BNSF lettering on
it at all. On a few photos I used the "Dynamic Art" setting on my
Panasonic Lumix DZ40 digital camera. It worked well in the dim light
but not on moving objects, where a 2-car train turned out blurry.
Included:
1) UP 4534, 6928, 7018, 4029, 7618
2) UP/SP 2047
3) CSX 155
4) BNSF 5333, 993
5)
Santa Fe 683 in warbonnet colors. I didn't see any BNSF lettering on it
at all, but the lighting was dim and the number 683 was severely faded.
6) TBOX 661531 new boxcar
7) MP 274510 new hi-cube boxcar
8) Fall colors
9) Vivid sunset
10) Moon closeup
11) 'Dynamic Art' photo
12) One-car wood product train
TRAINS AND FALL COLORS LITTLE
ROCK NOVEMBER 10, 2011
- Here are a couple of trains taken at the station in Little Rock,
Arkansas on Thursday, November 10, 2011. I also included a photo of
Fall colors on the abandoned and cleared Camp Robinson Spur between
UP's Van Buren Sub in North Little Rock and the Army's Camp Robinson.
Also some words of wisdom I found on Facebook.
Included today:
1) UP 4004, 3785, 7492, 8556
2) MWCX 100829 green hoppers
3) JTSX 900013 poles
4) Fall colors along abandoned Camp Robinson Spur North Little Rock
TRAINS-SUNRISE-ME IN STEAM PUNK
OUTFIT, NOVEMBER 12, 2011
- Saturday, November 12, 2011 at Union Station in Little Rock,
Arkansas. It was cloudy and in the 40s early then warmed to the 60s by
noon. My favorite catch was a red MKT gondola built in 1970 and some
kids watching the trains. I also included a photo of myself in a 'Steam
Punk' (1800s) engineers outfit complete with top hat and boots.
Included today:
1)
UP 4433, 8598, 4518, 5083, 5892, 7202, 4324, 4350, 4164, 693, 4379,
4836, 8468, 4429, 9688, 9474, 8120, 9423, 8109, 5946, 7453, 8140
2) NS 8937, 9499, 9423
3) CSX 8093, 7521, 71
4) HLCX 8066
5) BNSF 5433, 4481
6) LLPX 2281
7) QTTX heavy hauler
8)
New crude oil tank cars including TRFX 1015, built in June 2011. These
trains run through here often from North Dakota to Louisiana and back.
These will continue to run until a new pipeline is built in a few
years, if it actually is.
9) MKT 16378 red Katy gondola, built in March 1970
10) Skeleton graffiti
11) HS 75051 green boxcar
12) Spider graffiti
13) HS 30630 Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar
14) HS 30907 Columbus & Greenville boxcar
15) Couple from Illinois waiting for his brother at Amtrak station
16) UP 98011 hi-cube boxcar
17) UP 355254 small old boxcar
18) HOKX tank cars
19) Family with kids watching trains
20) MP 274509 hi-cube boxcar, built in February 1970
21) TILX 328421 new hopper, built June 2011
22) Yours truly in an 1800's engineers costume
RAIL GRINDER TRAIN-OTHER TRAINS
NOVEMBER 13, 2011
- On Sunday, November 13, 2011, I saw a rail grinder train and got a
movie of it leaving Union Station in Little Rock today plus two trains
that had to use the Amtrak siding at the station because the dpu of a
northbound empty coal train failed to load before it cleared
the
switchpoint between Main 1 and Main 2. Trains can get on Main 2 via the
Amtrak siding if needed.
Included:
1) UP 4760, 5946, 332, 1929, 8706, 7505, 6801, 9745, 4806
2) MVPX 6945
3) CSX 5489
4) UP/SP 6158
5) RBNX 998 Reading & Northern Rwy hopper
6) NS 16885 container car
7) NOKL 380763
8) Teeth and tongue graffiti
9) BN high-end flat
10) Harsco Rail Grinder train including RMSX 0802
RAIN,
STREETCARS AND FALL COLORS NOVEMBER 15, 2011
- Here's some dark, rainy photos of a streetcar in Little Rock, AR on
August 15, 2011, plus Fall leaves on a sunny day. I also
included
shots of the Trolley Barn in North Little Rock. For the
record,
we've had a lot of rain here in central Arkansas the past couple of
days (November 15 and 16). Here's the rainfall totals for this area
over a 2-day period:
LITTLE ROCK AIRPORT:
November 15, 2011 - 5.12"
November 16, 2011 - 0.25"
Total for two days: 5.37"
Total for 2011 so far: 44.26", which is 1.89" above normal.
NORTH LITTLE ROCK AIRPORT (where the NWS is located):
November 15, 2011 - 3.57"
November 16, 2011 - 0.24"
Total for two days: 3.81"
Total for 2011 so far: 48.74", which is 6.17" above normal.
IOWA, CHICAGO & EASTERN
LOCO PLUS TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, NOVEMBER 20, 2011-
Iowa, Chicago & Eastern locomotive 6407 and other locomotives
and
trains, mostly on Sunday, November 20, 2011 at Little Rock and North
Little Rock, Arkansas. These were taken by my Panasonic-Lumix GH2
digital camera, 16 MP. Original files are about 5,000 pixels wide but I
reduce them to 800 pixels wide for the web so they will display faster
(original files are 4-5 MB in size). If anyone wants a full size file,
email me (thundertrain@gmail.com) - Ken Z
Included:
1) LRWN 107, 1541
2) UP 4499, 4533, 8592, 8037, 2046, 2358, 4294, 8046, 4983, 8590
3) NS 8981, 2662
4) CSX 5011, 7308, 9022, 8515
5) ICE 6407
6) Ferromex 4029
7) HLCX 1044
8) HS 30919 Columbus & Greenville boxcar
9) MKT 550 green hopper
10) Tie loads
11) HS 30963 Columbus & Greenville boxcar
12) Boy waving
13) IC 535500 boxcar
14) HS 3965 Sabine River & Northern boxcar
15) WW 7111 Winchester & Western hopper
16) CP Rail tankcar, CP 382518
17) Two Cotton Belt hoppers together
18) Vivid sunset in Conway, Arkansas at 4:45 p.m.
IBCX-IC
6014 AND TRAINS, NOVEMBER 21, 2011
- Here's IBCX 6014, the last IC SD40A locomotive taken on November 21,
2011 in North Little Rock. It's on the way to the scrapper, according
to a UP source. Note the huge fuel tank. I've also included the Little
Rock & Western train in North Little Rock and a flooded section
of
UP's yards
THANKSGIVING TRAINS LITTLE ROCK,
NOVEMBER 24, 2011 - Thanksgiving Day trains at
Little Rock, Arkansas, including passing trains and a trespasser.
Included today:
1) UP 4195, 9738, 1564, 1648, 4483, 1655, 4309, 7350, 9376, 6035, 7794,
4384
2) UP/SP 6258
3) NS 8372, 9005, 8832 (very faded)
4) HLCX 7906
5) Happy bird graffiti
6) Trespasser near Main 2
7) PLMX 25128 tank car
8) Mummy graffiti
9) PVCX 13493 tank car
10) NOKL 600022 clean boxcar
11) BN 462385 green hopper
12) OFOX 2011 tank car
13) TCIX 175382 tank car
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS IN THE RAIN,
DECEMBER 4, 2011
- Trains passing Union Station in Little Rock, AR on a rainy Sunday,
December 4, 2011. Due to the rain, I took these photos from Union
Station's balcony, which you can get to, climbing a spiral staircase.
(I love taking pictures of railroads in rain or snow. After all, trains
run rain or shine, right?). Utility poles cluttered some scenes, but my
shots of fallen-flag freight cars were actually better than at
trackside because I could shoot them at a straight side angle. We
had 5 trains in 54 minutes. One of the rarest cars I saw
today
was a red MKT flat/container car, MKT 14133, plus two Ashley Drew
&
Northern boxcars and a rare SP woodchip car 355241.
Included today:
1) Ferromex 4656, 4685
2) UP 4970, 7495, 8136, 1650, 1644, 1639, 8154
3) GMTX 2615
4) KCS 3955
5) GTW 59804 Grand Trunk Western boxcar
6) FXE 872795 boxcar
7) HS 3061 Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar
8) CSXT 137030 CSX blue boxcar
9) HS 30611 boxcar
10) IC 97363 CN gondola
11) CN 156169 gondola
12) CN 15613 gondola
13) SP 231352 Golden West boxcar
14) HS 30667 boxcar
15) NDYX 845914 green hopper
16) CNW 1180050 UP hopper
17) DRGW 56285 Golden West gondola
18) Splashing water off tarp on a load of lumber
19) CNW 520049 green boxcar
20) NOKL 360220 blue gondola
21) UP Special Agent driving in water
22) CP 344709 covered gondola
23) MKT 14133 red flat/container car
24) CNW 180015 yellow hopper
25) MKT 4539 white hopper
26) SP 246729 Golden West boxcar
27) MP 819751 greet flatcar
28) CN 414759 boxcar
29) CEFX 30172 blue hopper
30) ALM 803 (?) Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar
31) COER 17135 green boxcar
32) TILX 192228 Global ethanol tankcar
33) TILX 196122 Renewable Products Marketing Group tankcar
34) UTLX 666948 tankcar with graffiti (how can they get this much time
to paint it?)
35) Illinois Cereal Mills Inc hopper
36) Rare SP 355241 woodchip car
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE IN SNOW LITTLE
ROCK, MIDNIGHT DECEMBER 6, 2011-
A light to moderate wet snow was falling as Amtrak's Texas Eagle, No.
22, arrived at Union Station in Little Rock, AR around midnight Tuesday
night, December 6, 2011. Here are some photos plus a video of No. 22
leaving for Chicago at 12:15 a.m. Temperature was 34 degrees so the
streets were just wet but snow was accumulating on cars and grass.
Here's the video of the train leaving at 12:15 a.m.: http://youtu.be/44gpfaylNSY
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS, DECEMBER 7,
2011
- Got a few trains Wednesday afternoon, December 7, 2011 at the station
in Little Rock, Arkansas. There was still a little snow on the ground
from the night before. There's one photo I took Tuesday night of NS
8078 in moderate snowfall. Saw another BNSF crude oil train today also,
southbound.
Included:
1) UP 9761, 9650, 9630, 8009, 9700, 1399, 8115, 8332, 9565, 9406
2) CSX 7680, 5354, 7566
3) NS 8773, 2510, 8434, 8078
4) BNSF 4748, 986, 7207
5) New FHRX 30,000 gallon tank car
TRAINS AT LITTLE ROCK, DECEMBER
11, 2011
- Some trains passing Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas Sunday,
December 11, 2011, including one with two green and white BN/BNSF
units..
Included:
1) UP 1647, 1649, 1644, 1639, 9629, 9655, 3945, 7189, 6458
2) KCS 4565, 4558
3) TFM 1643
4) BN/BNSF 8155, 8184
5) BNSF 4851
6) NS 8425
7) UP/SP 6220
8) CN 415192 new boxcar
9) MMMX 2118 hopper
10) DLRX 166655 scale car
11) GATX 210174 new tank cars
HOLLY TROLLEY SANTA STREETCAR,
NORTH LITTLE ROCK DECEMBER 17, 2011
- On Saturday, December 17, 2011, Central Arkansas Transit had a free
streetcar ride day, which included Santa visiting with children onboard
a streetcar at the trolley barn in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Here
are some photos of that event.
COUPLE OF TRAINS DECEMBER 18,
2011 LITTLE ROCK
- On Saturday, December 17, 2011, Central Arkansas Transit had a free
streetcar ride day, which included Santa visiting with children onboard
a streetcar at the trolley barn in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Here
are some photos of that event.
TRAINS AND CHRISMTAS LIGHTS AND
OTHER PHOTOS LITTLE ROCK DECEMBER 23, 2011
- Here's a few trains and other photos during the week
leading up
to Christmas 2011, December 18-23, 2011, all taken in Little Rock,
Arkansas.
Included:
1) Arkansas State Capitol in Christmas lights
2) Streetcar decorated with Christmas lights
3) Family in front of Capital Hotel's large Christmas tree
4) Muscovy ducks at a park
5) Union Station at night
6) CSX 7330, 338
7) NS 9401
8) UP 5584, 6659, 5602, 5219, 6705, 6567
9) BCRAIL 4646
10) NAHX 65546 Rock Island hopper
11) UPS trailers
12) 'Kilroy' graffiti
13) UP 91254 and 2 more "We Will Deliver" hoppers
14) 'Happy Bird' graffiti
AMTRAK TX EAGLES NO. 21 AND 22
DELAYS ARKANSAS, DECEMBER 25, 2011
- Christmas Day 2011 at the Amtrak station in Little Rock, Arkansas was
quite active in the pre-dawn hours. Texas Eagle 22, the
northbound, had its single engine fail 2 hours north of Little Rock, AR
near Alicia, AR about 215 am, stalling the train. So, the southbound
Eagle no. 21, which had passed no. 22 and was almost at Little Rock at
Jacksonville, AR, was told to back up north to hook onto the stalled
no. 22 and then haul it BACK to Little Rock, where 22 had left earlier
at 1140 pm. From Gene Pool comes the explanation: "The failed engine on
Train 22(24) was the AMTK 38 with major oil leak, engine shut down.
Train 21(24) was ordered to rescue; it reversed at 30mph from MP 288 to
MP 239 (49 miles) to reach the stranded Train 22. Passengers were
without heat and light until they could detrain at Little Rock. Outside
temperature was 37°F. Passengers on Train 22(24) were bustituted to
CHI; Train 22(24) deadheaded to Chicago, powered by the UP6327."
That
combined train of Amtrak 21 and 22 stopped in the UP's North Little
Rock yards and unhooked 22's consist at the fuel rack and added UP
locomotive 7753. Number 21 then continued on to Union Station
on
its own, boarded the usual passengers and left southbound.
Four
buses were called to meet no. 22 returning to Union Station to carry
no. 22's passengers to stops north all the way to Chicago. The buses
used were Little Rock Tour buses. One of the drivers told me that they
had a hard time getting drivers since it was Christmas Day. The buses
arrived about 5 a.m. The Amtrak agent, Larry (only one agent on duty at
LRK at train time) was told to get coffee, donuts, etc for 22's soon to
be bused passengers (there were almost 200 people on board no. 22). So,
I went with Larry to try and find something that was open on Christmas
Eve. Walmart, Kroger, etc were closed. We found a 24 hour Walgreens and
got milk and orange juice and one Shipleys Donuts location that was
open, where we got 30 dozen donuts! Quite a Christmas
adventure!
(Larry locked the ticket office but the waiting room remained open and
the Amtrak crewbase is located here, so they were available to keep
watch on the waiting room while we were gone).
The
passengers on Amtrak 22 which were being bused were all friendly and
seemed to have the Christmas spirit. I didn't near any complaints, but
one couple asked for a refund (which they got) and bought airline
tickets to Chicago for $700 since they had to be there by a certain
time. An Air Force man, who had crutches, asked an Amtrak employee at
the station to call for an ambulance at 9 a.m. since he was having some
kind of health issue. The ambulance got there in a few minutes.
It
was lucky that Union Pacific wasn't running many freights on Christmas
Day. I only saw one freight at 2:30 a.m. and didn't see any more before
I left at 9:30. Had it been a regular active day for UP, this
backup move that Amtrak 21 made to Alicia probably wouldn't have gone
as smoothly.
Anyway, following are some photos of the event
and links to my Youtube HD movies. (Ken Ziegenbein)
STREETCARS AT NIGHT-LITTLE ROCK
AND NORTH LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS DECEMBER 29, 2011
- On Thursday night, December 29, 2011, I photographed some
Christmas-lighted streetcars in Little Rock and North Little Rock,
Arkansas plus some shots in the daytime. It was a busy day for the
streetcar system with lots of tourists. A large group of
about 30
tourists boarded at the Verizon Arena stop 9:15 p.m. They also had me
take a picture of them with their camera. I had no idea they were going
to be here, I just lucked out and was there anyway taking night shots.
TRAINS
ON NEW YEARS DAY LITTLE ROCK, JANUARY 1, 2012
- A "New" day...New year, new hoppers, new black tank cars, new white
tank cars, new yellow baretable flatcars passing Union Station in
Little Rock, AR on Sunday, January 1, 2012.
Included today:
1) UP 5508, 3480, 4360, 6835, 6430
2) CSX 681
3) My pigeon friend
4) SHQX 1305 and other new hoppers
5) DOWX 49205 and other new white single dome tank cars
6) CTCX 733667 and other new black tank cars
7) Baretable train including new DTTX 765988
SOUTHERN PACIFIC UNPATCHED #107
LITTLE ROCK, JANUARY 3, 2012
- Thanks to a heads up text from a railfan, I caught this unpatched
Southern Pacific unit (SP 107) heading a northbound grain train past
Union Station in Little Rock, AR on Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at 4:53
p.m.
TRAINS IN LITTLE ROCK, JANUARY 5,
2012
- Here's a few pictures of trains in Conway and Little Rock, AR on
January 4 and 5, 2012. Got a few photos of old 'fallen-flag' freight
cars, a mixed UP train passing the park and bandstand at Conway, plus
Amtrak's Texas Eagle #22 at Union Station at midnight, where they
watered the diner and lounge cars.
Included today:
1) UP 1660, 1652, 2347, 4875, 4325, 4916, 4172, 6810, 9758,
9750, 4284, 1656, 1917
2) CSX 8610
3) HLCX 3851
4) NS 2740, 8901, 8704
5) EEC 6216 boxcar
6) UTLX 209223 "I Walk Alone" graffiti tankcar
7) Missouri Pacific red caboose 13704 in park in Conway, Arkansas
8)
Kris Allen stage with a train passing in Conway, Arkansas. Mr. Allen
won the American Idol contest a few years ago and is a native of Conway
9) APRX 6005 domeless tankcar
10) UTLX 800032 new tankcar
11) OCPX 80268 grey tankcar
12) SRN 6250 boxcar
13) TBOX 861863 new yellow boxcars. I like strings of new freight cars
14) SOO 117641 CP Rail hopper
15) Mockingbird closeup sitting on UP's shiny Main 2
16) FXE 872502 Ferromex boxcar
17) BCOL 60308 BCRAIL boxcar
18) HS 30773 Columbus & Greenville boxcar
19) CNW 155491 boxcar
20) HS 72505 Valdosta Southern Railroad Co. boxcar
21) KWT 65757 Rock Island faded blue hopper
22) CSXT 173449 boxcar
23) PTLX 3420 faded Allensville Grain Co., Allensville, Kentucky hopper
24) MRL 21133 Montana Rail Link boxcar
25) BCOL 10928 BCRAIL boxcar
26) Sharp eyes graffiti
27) Amtrak 22, Texas Eagle, at Union Station around midnight.
SEVERAL TRAINS AND OLD FREIGHT
CARS LITTLE ROCK, JANUARY 14, 2012
- Saturday, January 14, 2012 at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Windy but sunny, 'Kodachrome' colored weather. Three CN red/black units
today and several old fallen-flag freight cars.
Included:
1) Canadian Pacific, CP 8816, 9609
2) CN 2152, 5719, 2637
3) UP 4857, 7728, 6790, 6945, 6430, 3820, 4022, 4849, 1656, 4042, 8661,
4381, 6870, 6773, 6513, 9173, 7706
4) CSX 8020
5) GMTX 2100
6) UPY 663
7) BNSF 4510
8) Dark, black predawn at the station
9) Three SP boxcars in a row
10) SP 595592 flatcar built 4-27, recently repainted
11) New tank cars with blue crescents, one being UTLK 254509, built 8-11
12) AOK 6490 flat with wheel trucks
13) 'Hobos" graffiti on UP 14073 hopper
14) 'Oringe' graffiti
15) 'STRIKE' graffiti with painted match
16) BN 10124 boxcar or hopper
17) CNW 716135 'Smiley face with bad hair day' graffiti
18) ALM 5877 Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar
19) Colorful containers
20) China Shipping containers
21) GATX 210298 and other new tank cars
22) MKT red 14038 container car
23) Two SP gondolas with the Southern Pacific Lines emblem, one being
SP 365083
24) 'Sad face' graffiti
25) 'OCKLAHOMA-08' graffiti
RIBBON RAIL BEING READIED FOR IN
FRONT OF UNION STATION LITTLE ROCK, THURSDAY JANUARY 19, 2012
- New ribbon rail ready to install on UP's Main 2 in front of Union
Station in Little Rock, Arkansas, plus a northbound mixed freight
passing the DPU of a southbound loaded coal train, Thursday January 19,
2012.
Included:
1) Ribbon rail laid out, ready to install
2) UP 5848, 6599, 1690, 1903, 1637, 1656, 1659
3) Rail marked S 311733-11 IH HS.
(Looking forward to seeing everyone at the annual
Railspot luncheon in Plano, Texas Saturday January 21 at 1 p.m. - Ken Z)
DALLAS, KENNEDALE, PLANO TEXAS
TRAINS AND RAILSPOT LUNCH, JANUARY 21, 2012
- Friday, Saturday and Sunday, January 20-22, 2012 at Kennedale,
Arlington, Dallas and Plano, Texas for the annual Railspot Yahoo Group
luncheon and train show at Plano plus some train photos. I did not have
my regular camera, the Panasonic Lumix DH2, with me so I used one of my
older ones, the Panasonic DZ40.
Included:
1) UP 7523, 4439, 7693,
2) NS 8444
3) BNSF 9668, 6215, 6373, 6127
4) ARMN 725271 refrigerator car, Blt-70, Rebilt-90
5) ARMN 764193 with loving couple graffiti
6) Big Blue CSXT 1513 boxcar
7) KCS 125805 boxcar with arrow graffiti
8) Railspot luncheon photos in Plano, Texas
9) Dallas area train show photos
TRAINS AT LITTLE ROCK, AR,
JANUARY 25, 2012
- Some train activity at Union Station in Little Rock, AR on Tuesday
January 24 and Wednesday January 25, 2012. One train I saw was headed
by two KCS Belle units, pulling a stack train. Tuesday it was sunny but
Wednesday the clouds began moving in from Texas, eventually bringing
rain to the state. Temperature was in the middle 40s.
Included today:
1) UP 8024, 9686, 1662, 1689, 7890, 728, 4397, 6963, 5937, 7306
2) KCS 4046, 4687
3) TILX 263476, one of two new green tank cars
4) 'Snuffy Smith' comic character on boxcar TBOX 660757
5) MWCX 500489 with Rook/eyes graffiti
DARK, DRIZLY DAY AND TRAINS,
LITTLE ROCK JANUARY 26, 2012
- Trains on a cold, drizzly day at the Amtrak station in Little Rock,
Arkansas, Thursday January 26, 2012. I've added a couple of surprises
to a few of the photos to make them more interesting and just for fun.
Included:
1) UP 5793, 7022, 8392, 6450, 1672, 1658, 1566, 7774 with rubber
duckie, 5478, 5151, 351
2) CSX 4514
3) UP/SP 6407
4) Three SP boxcars in a row
5) Railbox boxcar with flame graffiti
6) Pigeons
7) TILX 135297 yellow sulfur tank
8) SP 355266 hi-cube boxcar
9) CABX black hopper
10) UP 90026 hopper being hauled on ITTX 930700 flatcar
11) UTLK 600226 tankcar Blt 02-10
12) Two mis-matched shoes next to the Amtrak siding tracks
13) Brand new TILX hoppers Blt 01-12
DERAILMENT NORTH LITTLE ROCK
YARDS, JANUARY 27, 2012
- A freight derailment occurred on the west side of Union Pacific's
yards in North Little Rock, Arkansas the morning of Friday, January 27,
2012. Here are some pictures I took from the public Locust Street
overpass, which has a sidewalk. The derailment was just east of this
overpass. Thanks to John C. Jones, UP photographer in this area, for
giving me the heads up. (Ken Ziegenbein photos)
TRAINS AND MOCKINGBIRDS LITTLE
ROCK, SUNDAY JANUARY 29, 2012
- A couple of coal trains today, Sunday, January 29, 2012. Plus, a long
mixed freight used the Amtrak siding to get around one of the stopped
coal trains. A Mockingbird shared some bread with me as well.
Included today:
1) UP 7177, 5073, 5225, 9416, 8238, 4057, 8037, 7157, 6566, 6502 (most
on one train)
2) UPY 705
3) GATX 210281 new tankcar
4) UP 93750 new hopper
5) Mockingbird eating bread
BNSF CRUDE OIL TRAIN VIDEO AND
PHOTOS PLUS OTHER PHOTOS LITTLE ROCK, FEBRUARY 2, 2012
- A long BNSF crude oil train passed Union Station in Little Rock, AR
on Thursday, February 2, 2012, one of several crude oil
trains
that pass through here each week. I understand that these go to St
James, near New Orleans for refining into diesel fuel and I've also
heard that most of that diesel fuel is then exported. If anybody knows
for sure what happens to the crude, let me know.
Included today:
1) UP 6024, 6037, 7378, 9773, 4239
2) BNSF 989, 5388
3) BNSF/Santa Fe Warbonnet 688
4) Crude oil train and movie
5) '2010' clown graffiti on hopper TGSX 443453
UP WORK TRAIN AND OTHERS, SUNDAY
FEB 5, 2012 - A work train and a couple of other
trains today, Sunday, February 5, 2012 at Little Rock, AR.
Included:
1) UP 4060, 2483, 3209, 4210, 6562, 7325, 7279
2) Single tank car DNAX 125027 at end of autorack train
3) UP work train video
4) Cold pigeons
5) Artistic gremlins over locomotive
LITTLE ROCK & WESTERN
TRAIN PASSING A CSX TRAIN, LITTLE ROCK MONDAY, FEB 6, 2012
- Monday, February 6, 2012 in Little Rock, Arkansas. It was a sunny,
cool day, around 50 degrees. I caught a westbound Little Rock &
Western train passing a northbound UP train, headed by a CSX unit. Plus
more trains.
Included:
1) UP 4684, 5051, 5598, 7123, 4366, 1689, 1660, 1662, 1691, 1659, 8190,
5046, 7191, 5701
2) CSX 715, 4558
3) Ferromex 4096
4) NS 6571
5) LRWN 1541
6) SOO hoppers 73443, 7555
7) Large spools of green cabling
8) Dillards world headquarters building in background in one photo
9) Surprise rider with banana on top of CSX locomotive (plus other
special insertions)
MY 'LAZY-BUM, STEALTH PHOTOS AT
LITTLE ROCK, AR FEB 7, 2012
- It was a cloudy, cold day at the station in Little Rock on Tuesday,
Feb 7, 2012, so I decided to remain in my car parked at trackside and
just shoot photos through my car windows. So, I guess you can call this
page of photos my 'Lazy Bum' or 'stealth' train photos. There's a
couple of interesting shots, including a small work train unloading a
piece of rail, LRWN coming and going, and a ballast train. My next
submission will have my regular outside shots.
Included today:
1) UP/SP 6294
2) UP 8016, 612, 9744, 9632, 1690, 1956, 1655, 1677, 1693, 4412, 4086,
4370
3) HLCX 331
4) Ferromex 4069, 4668, 4096
5) LLPX 2265
6) LRWN 1544
7) Meridian & Bigbee 107
8) NS 8403
9) UP 97018 yellow gondola
10) Short work train pushed by a hi-rail
11) Lowering a short piece of rail to the ground with the magnet
12) LRWN 13010 boxcar with orange/yellow door
13) ADN 9644, Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar
14) TBOX 861959 new boxcars
15) UP 91575 yellow boxcar with UP map
16) Ballast train
Amtrak #22 Texas Eagle Little
Rock, February 8, 2012
- Northbound Amtrak #22, Texas Eagle, arrived at Union
Station in
Little Rock, Arkansas 25 minutes early at 11:19 p.m. and left on time
at 11:39 p.m. on Wednesday night, February 8, 2012. Here are
photos and a couple of videos of the train arriving and
leaving.
The train had 8 Superliners tonight. Consist was Locomotive 120,
Dorm/Passenger Sleeper 39023, Diner/Lounge 37001, Lounge 33029,
Baggage/Coach 31023, Coach 34114, Coach 34006, Sleeper 32083,
Deadheading coach 34109. Passengers on board after leaving Little
Rock-123 (17 got on here tonight).
To see a video of this 8-car train leaving at 11:39 p.m., click on: http://youtu.be/yU7PXfHHv_U
SPECIAL LOAD AIRCRAFT
PARTS-LITTLE ROCK FEBRUARY 10, 2012
- Some pre-dawn photos of a one-car special load passing Union Station
in Little Rock, Arkansas on Friday, February 10, 2012 at 7:01 a.m.. It
was dark and rainy so I didn't get the number of the UP airplane
container car which contained a special customer load of some sort.
Trainorders.com had the car as Triumph Special MP818085 load
If
anyone knows what was in here, let me know.
UP 4141-GEORGE BUSH LIBRARY
UNIT-LITTLE ROCK, AR FEBRUARY 10, 2012
- caught UP 4141, the George Bush UP unit, passing Union Station at
Little Rock, Arkansas at 3:28 p.m. Friday, February 10, 2012 with one
of the most colorful locomotive consists I've ever seen. Included were
UP 4141-Bush, CSX 8541, HLCX green 7921, UP 4357 yellow, and GMTX 2116
blue. This train was the Pine Bluff to Little Rock local YPB71-10.
LOTS OF TRAINS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY
10, 2012 LITTLE ROCK
- Several trains today, Friday February 10, 2012, at Little Rock with
some good 'fallen flag' freight cars. I've also included pictures of a
car in the River Market getting a ticket for parking across the white
line next to the streetcar tracks. This delayed both streetcar and auto
traffic on Clinton Avenue for awhile, until it was determined that the
streetcars could squeak by with about an inch to spare.
Included:
1) Auto being ticketed because it was too close to streetcar tracks
downtown Little Rock
2) UP 8161, 2224, 3994, 9754, 5173, 7530, 4530, 5012, 1693, 1677, 1655,
4141, 5592
3) UP/SP 5592
4) CSX 8734, 8541
5) NS 9557, 8371
6) Ferromex 4048
7) HLCX 7894
8) MKT 549 green hopper
9) NDYX 133 gondola
10) SP 466853 short Golden West hopper
11) SP 46091 short hopper
12) SMW 735796 blue centerbeams
13) Lost shoes at Amtrak platform track
14) LRWN 1544
15) Meridian & Bigbee 107
16) BNSF 576734 green BN flatcarHere's
a few shots of the red valentine lights on the streetcars Feb 11 and
13, 2012844 ST
17) NS 146925 and more NS coal hoppers
18) Auto-Max auto carrier
19) CNW 437114 hopper with shield
20) Pine centerbeam DWC 627502
21) New green tank car TILX 263485
22) CEFX 15437 Hampton Co-Op hopper
23) WP 38154 Western Pacific boxcar
24) MWCX 100554 BN hopper
TRAINS, STREETCAR AND NORFOLK
SOUTHERN AND UP844 STEAM SCHEDULE FOR MARCH 2012 FEBRUARY 15, 2012
- Here's a few photos of streetcars and one train in Little Rock, AR on
Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012. I also included a photo of one of the blue men
after I and several others went to the Blue Man Group performance in
Little Rock in the evening. Plus a bird-railfan looking at a departing
NS-led train at Union Station. Plus news details that Norfolk Southern
will be painting 18 locomotives in various heritage livery and the
tentative schedule of UP 844's 150th Anniversary Steam Excursion called
the Shiloh Limited that will run through Northeast Arkansas to Marion
carrying numerous Civil War actors on their way to the Shiloh
Battlefield in Tennessee. The Civil War actors and Civil War cannons
will move by bus from Marion to Shiloh then the train will eventually
come to North Little Rock via the Brinkley and Jonesboro Subs. This
train will run between March 22 and 30.
Included:
1) Little Rock streetcar 411
2) NS 9478, 8337
3) UP 3816, 4833
4) Southern boxcar 523567 with NO real graffiti, built 2-71
5) Mockingbird 'railfan'
6) ANR 309 Angelina & Neches River Railroad boxcar
7) SP 355187, 355249 hi-cube boxcars, built 3-75
8) DOWX 71265 rusty tankcar
9) AM 2402 boxcar hauled on flatcar ITTX 931277
10) Daffodils
11) Cat
12) Wrecked auto on trailer
13) UP 844 Shiloh Limited schedule March 22-30, 2012
14) NS news release about painting 18 locomotives in heritage livery
GOLD MEDAL SEAL ON BOXCAR AND
TRAIN LITTLE ROCK, FEBRUARY 18, 2012
- Here's a few photos at the station in Little Rock Saturday, February
18, 2012, including rare Gold Medal and General Mills seals on a
boxcar. Does anyone have the Built dates of this car? There wasn't a
Blt panel on the car. Anyone know when these cars actually carried Gold
Medal flour?
Included:
1) UP 4141, 4874, 9784
2) Frames
3) UP 79126248 (?) hopper with blue-painted panels
4) CR 631362 Conrail coil car
5) CBTX 735123 new tankcars
6) SP 376053 hopper built 9-74
7) CNW 752765 Rock Island hopper, built 8-76
8) SP 247511 Golden West Service boxcar
9) CMHX 691923 Gold Medal and General Mills Seals on boxcar
10) CHTT 360340 blue gondola
11) Hazy sun
12) Three pigeon railfans sitting on a rail
13) Scotch Magic Tape high-heel tape dispenser
MKT GREEN SHORT HOPPER, MANY MORE
TRAINS AND OLD FREIGHTCARS WITH BUILT DATES
- A rare MKT green short hopper, TCWX 4111, built November 1979, plus a
southbound UP local passing a northbound NS train and lots of 'fallen
flag' freight cars and even brand new hoppers. Per request,
I'm
trying to get the built dates of many of these freight cars, which
means I take one photo of a car then a closeup of the built date
placard so I can read the built date more clearly. I also have some
pictures of seagulls over the Arkansas River taken from the parking lot
of the meeting place of the Arkansas Railroad Club. And my 'artsy' shot
today: "Plastic Fork on Fence with Passing Train." I also have a photo
of UP 4141, the Bush Library Unit, in North Little Rock, which is
rumored to be going back to storage at UP's Jenks Shop's here. Also,
since I have so many pictures today, the size of each was reduced to
640x360 pixels for faster downloading. Original size is about 4900x2800
pixels.
Included today:
1) UP 4141, 4142, 1356, 5162, 4060, 4288, 3425, 7422, 5173, 4574, 1689,
1662, 7423, 4309, 1691
2) KCS 4786
3) LLPX 2203
4) Ferromex 4094, 4681
5) NS 7542
6) CSX 7645, 42
7) MKT green short hopper TCWX 4111, blt 11-79
8) MP 273152 hi-cube boxcar
9) GTW 126523 CN hi-cube boxcar
10) ATSF 313797 Santa Fe hopper, blt 2-73
11) DME 49348 hopper, blt 2-87
12) SATW 75047 Larinburg & Southern boxcar
13) YTGX 940792 BN autorack
14) HESR 662140 new boxcar
15) AOKX 493633 new hopper, blt 2-12
16) GACX 84247 Wisconsin Central hopper
17) BNSF 406904 hopper, blt 5-77
18) BN 44915 hopper, blt 6-73
19) CEFX 304462 hopper, blt 10-11
20) CNW 438161 hopper, blt 2-67, re-blt 4-88
21) NS 169761 coilcar, blt 6-75
22) Yellow CNW hopper RCLX 169342, blt 6-81
23) UP 93962 hopper, blt 6-11
24) TOBX 661267 boxcar, blt 8-11
25) MP 706507 hopper, blt 1-77
26) CNW 11773 dump car, blt 3-63
27) NS 473505 boxcar, blt 2-04
28) Frames
29) Empty high-end flatcars
30) NS 187507 gondola
31) WCX 01492 woodchip car
32) GROX 50862 yellow Union Equity hopper
33) SRCX 907 Richardson Carbon Co. hopper
34) MP 641439 gondola, blt 7-77
35) Dark black CABX 580512 repainted, blt 8-72
36) CITX silver hopper 200232
37) Seagulls on the Arkansas River
UP REPLACING RAIL LITTLE ROCK
PLUS TRAINS FEBRUARY 25,2012
- Track work began on Main 2 in front of Union Station Little Rock on
Saturday, Feb 25, 2012. I included some photos and videos of spike and
rail removal and I got the last 3 northbound trains to use the old Main
2 track. I also got the rare, MKT ungraffitied red gondola, MKT 16031,
and a few other fallen-flag freight cars.
Included:
1) UP 8163, 4902, 7685, 4861, 4570, 8633, 4144, 7671, 8398, 4177
2) HLCX 7065
3) CSX 4570
4) NS 9027
5) Large gray container Q---11063
6) NOKL 360220 blue gondola
7) Western Pacific hopper WP 12033
8) Seaboard System hopper CSXT 245587
9) B&O hopper with B&O emblem CSXT 226671, blt 8-70
10) GTW 1271021 hi-cube boxcar
11) Illinois Central Gulf hi-cube boxcar ICG 680100, blt-3-77
12) UP yellow boxcar UP 563123
13) Southern 62354 flatcar, blt 6-81
14) Berlin Rail (?) Railway HS 30835
15) UP work detail replacing rail in front of Union Station
16) Southern boxcar 550xxx, blt 10-70
17) UTLX 647818 new tank car
18) DT&S 7009 flatcar
19) SP 333230 gondola
20) Red MKT-Katy gondola MKT 16031
21) WSOR 102008 blue Wisconsin & Southern boxcars
EIGHT ROADNAMES-KCS/NS
PASSING-SMILING KETCHUP FEBRUARY 28, 2012
- Here are a few trains at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas on
Tuesday, February 28, 2012, including the passing of two northbound
trains, one headed by a KCS Belle unit, the other NS. There
were
8 different roadnames on locomotives today. Also a couple of Little
Rock streetcar pictures including the overhead wires, and my 'Smiling
Ketchup' photos. Plus photos I took of George Takei (Star
Trek's
Sulu), taken here on Thursday, February 23 while he was giving a speech
at the Robinson Center in Little Rock regarding his stay at the Rohwer,
Arkansas Japanese Relocation Camp during World War II in 1942, when he
was only 5 years old (Japanese-Americans were placed in 10 of these
relocation camps around the country by train during the war).
Included:
1) UP 8205, 1444, 1690, 1691, 1917, 4645, 1660, 1672, 9788, 7604
2) UPY 583
3) KCS 4686 Belle
4) NS 9942, 9839
5) CSX 8364
6) Ferromex 4050
7) LLPX 2265
8) CN 2154
9) George Takei photos I took
10) PBRX 20063 boxcar, which used to be used in Amtrak freight service
11) Golden West Service short gondolas
12) PLCX 21912 FMC hopper
13) Bird on fence with coffee cup
14) DRGW 10014 hopper
15) Closeup of a bug on a downtown sidewalk
16) Streetcar 412 with view of overhead wires
17) 'Smiling Ketchup' at a restaurant
18) HZGX 3225 gondola
A FEW TRAINS ON LEAP YEAR DAY,
FEBRUARY 29, 2012
- A couple of trains at Little Rock, AR on Wednesday, February 29,
2012. I figured I should have some pictures on a leap year on February
29. I have my usual old freight cars and some streetcar shots (big
crowds already arriving in town for the upcoming Little Rock Marathon
on March 4), so there was good ridership on the streetcars
today.) It was sunny and warm, 80 degrees.
Included:
1) Homeland Security car
2) Streetcar in Little Rock
3) UP 8009, 5164
4) CNW 520000 boxcar
5) SSW 66515 Golden West Service boxcar
6) EEC 5609 Wisconsin Central boxcar
7)BNSF 726173 boxcar
8) SOO 16890 SOO Line boxcar
9) UTLX 665335 Incobrasa Industries Ltd. tankcar
10) NS 657455 long hi-cube boxcar
UP SPECIAL TRAIN HEADED BY THE
PINK RIBBON UNIT, UP 7400,. MARCH 1, 2012
- Union Pacific Locomotive 7400, the Pink Ribbon Komen unit, headed a
3-car special from Forth Worth, Texas to, I think, Poplar
Bluff,
Missouri on Thursday, March 1, 2012. Here it is seen passing Union
Station in Little Rock, Arkansas at 3:50 p.m. (Thanks to a UP person
for the heads up). It's UP designation was SFWPF-1. Its'
consist
was:
1) UP 7400, special Pine Ribbon locomotive
2) UPP 1602 "Green River" a sleeper
3) UPP 140 "Stanford" business car
4) UPP 150 "Sunset" business car
JIMMY BUFFETT CONCERT STREETCAR
RIDERS LITTLE ROCK, MARCH 1, 2012
- On Thursday night, March 1, 2012, Jimmy Buffett had a sold-out
concert in Verizon Arena in North Little Rock, AR. Three streetcars of
the Central Arkansas Transit Systems were used to shuttle people back
and forth over the Main Street bridge into Little Rock crossing the
Arkansas River. Here are some photos and videos of the fun-loving crowd
of Jimmy Buffett lovers getting on and riding the streetcars.
There's one video of everyone in one streetcar singing 'Happy
Birthday." With people standing in the aisles, each streetcar
can
hold 80 people.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS INCLUDING
MODEL RAILROADER MAGAZINE CAR, MARCH 4, 2012
- Special catches today at Little Rock, Sunday March 4, 2012, include
the Wisconsin & Southern's Model Railroader 75th anniversary
car
and Dupont tank cars and caboose.
Also included:
1) CSX 83, 8858, 299
2) UP 9643, 4043, 6537, 6481, 1690, 8198, 5016, 1694
3) ARMN 902982 and more reefers
4) DUPX 913A NS-Dupont TransCaer tankcar
5) DUPX 913B NS-Dupont boxcar
6) DUPX 913C NS-Dupont caboose
7) TILX 401598 Dupont boxcar
8) UTLX 950986 Dupont tankcar
9) TILX 400672 Dupont tankcar
10) WSOR 503176 Wisconsin & Southern Moder Railroader 75th
anniversary boxcar
11) MKT 4440 hopper
12) NDYX green hopper
13) SP 36502 gondola with a black SP Sunset emblem
1973 CADILLAC PACE CAR PLUS
TRAINS, LITTLE ROCK, MARCH 5, 2012
- Some trains today, March 5, 2012, including a KCS train, RSSX 3766
yellow locomotive, and my usual freight cars, including rusty, old ones
WITHOUT graffiti (heck, they are the ones that need paint of some kind,
preferably a legal painting). There's also a 720i HD movie of a Little
Rock & Western local passing Union Station. (My camera takes
1080i
HD movies, but even when I upload those to Youtube, viewing them on
most computers still can overload bandwidth for most people). Plus a
photo of me in a 1973 Cadillac which was used as the 1973 Indianapolis
500 Pace car.
Included today:
1) UP 4282, 4782, 7649, 1688, 1669, 1676, 1660, 1698, 1563, 1699, 4093,
7151, 4141
2) LRWN 1541
3) KCS 4580, 4680
4) Ferromex 4670
5) RSSX 3766
6) MKT 4025 red coil car
7) HS 3995 Green Bay and ??? (Western?) boxcar
8) CNW 178088 hopper
9) ITLX 20058 "The Road Of Personal Service" hopper
10) UTLX 23393 blue tankcar
11) NRLX 47601 hopper, no graffiti
12) GCBX 59116 hopper, no graffiti
13) EUSX 448040 four-dome tankcar
14) AEX 7493 Illinois Cereal Mills Inc. hopper
15) DME 5752 boxcar, clean
16) TOE 2576 boxcar, clean
17) AEX 1293 hopper, clean
18) CNW 437248 hopper
19) D&RGW 5569 and 15513 orange hoppers
20) GFSX 4354 gondolas
USUAL TRAINS AND RARE FREIGHT
CARS LITTLE ROCK, MARCH 6-9, 2012 - Here are a
few trains from March 6 through March 9, 2012 at Little Rock.
Included:
1) NS 2756
2) LRWN 1542, 1544
3) UP 5734, 4823, 3769, 1833, 5103, 4806, 8104, 5944, 7276, 1694, 1688,
1692, 1677, 1563, 1699, 9620, 4018, 1698, 1691
4) CN 2674
5) Mockingbird closeup
6) Orange tankcar GATX 63915
7) MP 642729 Eagle gondola
8) Long blue tankcar CCBX 8133
9) Black and yellow short tank car TILX 135290
10) CNIS 413435 CN boxcar
11) Streetcars in rain North Little Rock
12) UP's Jenks Shops taken from the Main Street Viaduct
13) DGRW 56373 gondola
14) KRR 7003 boxcar
15) CCEX 4720 hopper
16) SRCX 1933 dirty hopper
17) Long blue tankcar UTLX 23393
18) SOO 16876 SOO Line boxcar
19) JPMW 7734-7744 dump cars (?)
20) BN 471779 green hopper
TRAINS, STREETCARS AND TULIPS IN
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, MARCH 11, 2012
- Here are more trains in the rain, plus some photos of tulips and
streetcars in Little Rock and North Little Rock, AR on Sunday, March
11, 2012. The tulips along the streets in North Little Rock are put
there each year by Master Gardeners.
Included today:
1) UP 2216, 1917, 6612, 5557
2) GMTX 2116
3) LLPX 2265
4) MP 786553 hopper
5) MKT 502 green hopper
6) Long auto-rack and intermodal combined train
7) MP 643637 gondola
8) MP 641927 gondola
9) SP 338295 Golden West Service gondola
10) Tulips in North Little Rock
11) Streetcars in North Little Rock
BUGS BUNNY PAINTING ON AUTORACK,
BALD KNOB, AR, MARCH 13, 2012
- Late Monday night, March 12, 2012, I got a notice and email on the
Yahoo Group "Railspot" from Devin M. Jackson of Palestine, Texas that
an autorack car on a UP freight headed by UP 4955 was in Palestine with
Bugs Bunny painted on one side along with the words 'ALBUQUERQUE' in
large letters on the same side. It was headed to Illinois,
which
means it would come through North Little Rock early Tuesday morning,
March 13. Chris Tolley also emailed and said it had passed
Longview at 11:55 p.m. Mr. Tolley also said it was probably the QSRAS
or ALDAS, but it turned out to be a mixed freight that included
autoracks, so I don't know its ID.
The train passed
Marshall, Texas at 12:40 a.m. March 13, so that would mean it'd be in
North Little Rock 5-7 hours later if it had no delays, arriving here
between 5:40 a.m and 7:40 a.m. It actually arrived in NLR at 7:04 a.m.
I knew it would be too dark to get photos that early, since Daylight
Savings Time just started (sunrise in Little Rock was 7:22 a.m.). So I
decided to head north to Bald Knob, Arkansas on UP's Hoxie Sub to try
and catch it there. Bald Knob is an hour drive away. I left
about
6:15 a.m. and arrived at the Bald Knob Depot (now housing Arkansas
Traveler Hobbies, which has lots of model trains) at 720 a.m.
It
was very dense fog at Bald Knob and you couldn't see more than a tenth
of a mile when I first arrived.
I waited there at the
depot for the train carrying Bugs but figured it would be delayed in
the UP yard in North Little Rock. I was ready to take a nap, but in the
meantime another northbound train passed, which I also got a picture
of, and then at 8:44 a.m. the train with UP 4955 and Mr. Bunny arrived.
Trains move close to track speed through Bald Knob, so I set my camera
to shutter priority (1/400th second) so it wouldn't be a blurr and
adjusted the aperture as well. All set.
The 'Bugged'
autorack number was ETTX 702888. I also got another rare car on the
same train, which had the ID EEC 2398. It was a boxcar with faded
lettering something like this: "New Hope Ivyland RR" and "McHugh Bros,
IN."
TRAINS, SUNSET AND A PAINTING OF
MY CAT TIGGER, MARCH 13-15, 2012 - Here s a few
trains on March 13 and 15, 2012, plus a nice sunset on Wednesday, March
14, 2012.
Included:
1) NS 9772, 9094
2) LRWN 1541, 1542, 1544
3) UP 4031, 7507, 7333, 4203
4) CP 9702, 9557
5) BN green gondola or woodchip car
6) CPRail boxcar SOO 18814
7) Sunset at the station, plus a Kaleidoscope effect on the photo
8) Old utility pole north of the tracks, 1 of 3 left
9) Painting of my cat Tigger by a friend
UP 844 SHILOH LIMITED STEAM
SPECIAL, HARRISBURG, AR MARCH 28, 2012
- On Wednesday, March 28, 2012, UP 844 pulled the Shiloh
Limited
southbound through Harrisburg and Wynne, Arkansas on its way to Marion,
AR. This train carried Civil War reenactors and had a trailing flatcar
full of Civil War cannons, all heading the Shiloh, Tennessee Civil War
battlefield. They would deboard the train and be bused to Shiloh at
Marion. I also got this information about the Shiloh event from Joe
Musgrove: "These are not actors but "reenactors" who will be reenacting
the Battle of Shiloh over the weekend, next to the actual battlefield.
This group is but a small number of the 6,300 + reenactors registered
for Shiloh. I will be one of 1,800 Union Infantry "defending
the
Union" at this event. - I also included a link to a couple of videos of
the train in bright sunshine.
BRINKLEY, PINE BLUFF, LITTLE ROCK
TRAINS INCUDING UP 844, 1989, 1982, 2010
- UP 844 steam locomotive and train ran from West Marion, Arkansas to
Pine Bluff to Little Rock on Friday, March 30, 2012. This was its
final
leg of a long journey pulling a train called the "Shiloh Limited" from
Council Bluffs, Iowa to Marion, Arkansas. This trip was celebrating the
150th anniversary of UP and also the Battle of Shiloh during the Civil
War. The train that ran to Marion had 21 cars full of Civil War
reenactors and a flatcar with Civil War cannons. The train you'll see
today was much shorter - the other cars were moved back north out of
Marion.
. The train and 844 will be on display in North
Little Rock through Sunday, April 1, then the locomotive and train will
stay in North Little Rock for 2 weeks, until April 14. After then I
understand it will go to Texas. Most of the UP Steam Crew will fly back
to Cheyenne from Little Rock while the engine stays here, then fly back
to take it to Texas in mid-April. I was told the locomotive may have
some work done on the wheels while here in North Little Rock.
The day was mostly cloudy, with a few sprinkles in the early
morning.I've also included a video of the train arriving in Brinkley,
AR and entering the sharp curve at the Brinkley Depot Museum early in
the day. The video is a little shaky since I forgot my tripod at home,
but there's some nice sounds of long whistle blasts from the 844 as it
crossed a street just east of the depot. I was looking straight at the
locomotive with steam all around, kind of a lonely, relaxing and
soothing scene.
. I've also included photos of a few other
trains, including shots of UP 2010 (which was part of 844's consist),
UP 1982 (MoPac Heritage) and UP 1989 (Rio Grande Heritage), which were
all in North Little Rock today. UP 4141, the George Bush unit, is here
also, but hidden behind UP's Jenks Shops.
Included today:
1) UP 9682, 7835, 844, 8352, 8688, 1982, 1989
2) NS 7557
3) Unknown ID 6547
4) BNSF 7518
5) UP 904514 flatcar with load of engines
6) Rio Grande 1900
UP 844 AND 1982 NORTH LITTLE ROCK
APRIL 4, 2012
- Union Pacific 844 steam engine and train in North Little Rock,
Arkansas on Wednesday, April 4, 2012. UP 1982, the Missouri Pacific
Heritage unit, has joined the train. This train will stay here in North
Little Rock until April 14, when it will go to Pine Bluff on its way to
San Antonio, Texas (this according to a UP person at the
train).
Most of the steam crew flew back to Cheyenne, Wyoming but the engineer
and a few others in the crew stayed here. Other steam crew people will
fly back here next weekend to help do some kind of routine maintenance
work on the engine. The train is parked behind UP's office building on
4th Street in North Little Rock, next to Jenks Shops. It is not open to
the public.
UP 844 UPDATE-APRIL 5, 2012-NORTH
LITTLE ROCK, AR
-April 5, 2012. Just a quick update on UP 844, being stored in North
Little Rock, AR. It will be stored here until April 14, a Saturday.
Plans as of today are for it and the train to be pulled backwards to
Pine Bluff early morning of April 14, at 8 a.m. or earlier. From Pine
Bluff, it's supposed to go to Texarkana, then to Hearne, Austin and San
Antonio, Texas. No timetable or service stops announced yet, but at
least you have an idea of its possible routing to San Antonio. It will
probably be another week before any detailed schedule is released, and
keep in mind that this is only a preliminary report.
Work on the boiler and cleaning of the engine will begin next Monday or
Tuesday, April 9 or 10. By that time, more of the steam crew will have
returned from Cheyenne to help with the work. In the meantime, here are
a couple of photos I took today. It looks lonesome...just waiting for
its friends to come back....lol.
NIGHT PHOTOS-UP844 NORTH LITTLE
ROCK, APRIL 6, 2012
- Today, Friday April 6, 2012, marked the end of week one
that
UP's 844 steam locomotive and train has been in North Little Rock. It
will stay here for another week, then leave early on Saturday, April 14
on its way to San Antonio, Texas. The official schedule will
be
out early next week, according to Ed Dickens, 844 engineer and Manager
Heritage Equipment & Facilities. Mr. Dickens is here with the
train
and I got to chat briefly with him today. The others in the steam crew
flew back to Cheyenne a few days ago, but will return Sunday and
Monday, April 8 and 9, to help do boiler work on the locomotive. In the
meantime, the engine and train sits quietly with no crowds. I've been
dropping by each day to see if anything is new.
.
I took
advantage of the peace and quiet on this Good Friday to go to the
display site to get some night photos, some with the Arkansas State
Capitol in the background. A bonus was a full Moon rising and a crisp,
clear sky with lots of stars. It's perfect weather, with temperatures
in the 50s at night and 70s during the day. I was the only person there
except for TWO UP special uniformed guards, who gave me permission to
do my night shots. Like I said before, the engine and equipment are not
open to the public, nor will they be before the train leaves April 14.
.
Even
though the official schedule of the trip to Texas will not be out until
next week, Mr. Dickens did say that my earlier information regarding
routing to Texas was correct as of this date, but always subject to
change. The train will be pulled backwards to Pine Bluff early on
Saturday, April 14, then head on the Pine Bluff Sub to Texarkana and go
all the way to Big Sandy, where is will then head to Hearne, Austin
then San Antonio. Service stops, times, etc. not yet available. (Sorry,
but I don't have my UP subdivision maps with me to check things).
UP 844 AT NORTH LITTLE ROCK,
APRIL 9, 2012
- UP 844 at North Little Rock, AR for the 11th day, Monday, April 9,
2012. Water hoses were attached to the train, and I assume it was for
the boiler washing/cleaning. There were several more UP vehicles with
Wyoming license plants near the train, so I guess more have returned
from Cheyenne, WY. These pictures were taken with a zoom lens outside
the barricades. If anyone is contemplating seeing the engine here, be
aware that you must keep your distance (notice the photo of the warning
sign). Anyway, I didn't 'push the envelope' by getting closer. As far
as I know, there have been no changes to 844's departure date of April
14.
UP 844 BEING SERVICED NORTH
LITTLE ROCK, TUESDAY APRIL 10, 2012
- Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at North Little Rock, Arkansas: UP steam
engine No. 844 was being serviced by the UP steam crew today and they
gave me permission to get closeup photos and a short movie of the work.
I also got photos of some of the other cars, including UP 1982 and a
passing KCS-led freight with 844 an 1982 in the same scene. This is the
12th day this locomotive and train has been sitting at this location,
waiting for its April 14th departure for Texas. 844 Engineer Ed Dickens
said the schedule for departure remains early morning of the 14th. More
of the UP Steam Crew is trickling back to North Little Rock from
Cheyenne.
UP 844 MOVED TO DIFFERENT TRACK N
LITTLE ROCK, APRIL 11, 2012
- After arriving on April 11, 2012 at the place where UP 844 has been
stored since March 30 in North Little Rock, AR, I found an empty space
where 844 had been. Turns out the crew was getting it ready for its run
to Pine Bluff on Saturday, April 14 and had moved it to another track.
I also got more shots of UP 1982, the MoPac heritage unit, and UP 7808,
which will pull 844 and its train backward to Pine Bluff on Saturday.
844 Engineer Ed Dickens said that UP 7808 will lead the train Saturday
with 844 being on the rear facing backwards. All this because there's
no place to turn the train in Pine Bluff and 844 needs to be facing
west after it gets to Pine Bluff. They are still planning on
leaving North Little Rock at 7 a.m. or before Saturday morning and I
plan on being at Union Station to get photos and a movie of it passing.
I don't think I ever saw a video of 844 being pulled backwards before.
Ed and the UP steam crew gave me permission to get in the
tool
car "Art Lockman" (6334) and get pictures of 844 on the next track
over. That was a unique experience for sure. I also got a
couple
of closeups of 1982. The Eagle seems a little worn.
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE No. 22 LITTLE
ROCK, APRIL 11, 2012
- Amtrak Texas Eagle, No. 22, arriving on time Wednesday night, April
11, 2012 at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas. I also
included a shot of a baby Killdeer bird at the station. There were
several others running around the parking lot. Their parents were very
loud and buzzed me while I tried to get more photos.
UP 844 NORTH LITTLE ROCK, APRIL
12, 2012
- Work continues at North Little Rock in getting UP 844 ready for the
Texas trip. The train leaves Saturday morning at 7 a.m. or earlier.
Today (Thursday, April 12, 2012) the crew were moving and taking down
signs, getting UP 1982 in position for the trip, and generally getting
everything ready for the resumption of 844's trip to Texas and
Louisiana. These trips are part of UP's 150th anniversary celebration.
As a side note, UP 844 has been here since March 30, so today is the
14th day here. Also, this is the 3rd year in a row the locomotive has
been in North Little Rock. I've also included a couple of photos of
baby Killdeer birds I photographed last night at the Amtrak station
when the Texas Eagle was at Union Station at midnight.
UP 844 NIGHT SHOTS N LITTLE ROCK,
AR, APRIL 13, 2012-FINAL DAY HERE
- Union Pacific's 844 steam engine is spending it's last night in North
Little Rock tonight, April 13, 2012 after being here for 15 days. I
thought I'd try to get some night shots if the engine was positioned
right. Well, it was positioned right, but I couldn't get to the front
side of the engine due to barricades, but did manage to get some front
shots anyway from the nearby parking lot. Anyway, it's ready for
departure to Texas early Saturday morning, April 14. It will go around
the Van Buren Wye and turned so that 844 will be on the rear of the
train in the morning, and be pulled to Pine Bluff in the morning facing
backwards. UP 7808 ought to be the locomotive pulling the train to Pine
Bluff. Should be an interesting train with 844 sorta being the DPU.
UP 844 LEAVING LITTLE ROCK FOR
TEXAS, SATURDAY APRIL 14, 2012
- Saturday, April 14, 2012. The Union Pacific steam crew and UP 844
with its train began it's journey to Texas early in the morning. Here
are some photos and movies of this train as it left the Little Rock
area Saturday morning.
UP'S FAMOUS E-UNITS LITTLE ROCK,
APRIL 14, 2012
- On Saturday, April 14, 2012, Union Pacific's famous E-units pulled a
9-car passenger special from Memphis, Tennessee to Shreveport,
Louisiana, stopping in Little Rock, Arkansas on the way. UP's steam
locomotive #844 had left Little Rock less than 3 hours before the
E-units arrived. In an unexpected move, the E's passenger train stopped
on the Amtrak siding in Little Rock, so I got some good photos and a
movie of the train on the Amtrak platform and in other places. The
train symbol was SMESH-14.
The consist of this train was:
1) UP 949-A unit
2) UP 963-B unit
3) UP 951-A unit
4) UPP 2066 power/generator car
5) UPP 202 - Willie James
6) UPP 200 - Omaha
7) UPP 413 - Lake Bluff
8) UPP 315 - Little Rock
9) UPP 5779 with the American Flag design
10) UPP 9009 - Harriman
11) UPP 302 - Overland
12) UPP 101 - Lone Star
REPAINTED NS 9029 LOCOMOTIVE N
LITTLE ROCK, AR APRIL 19, 2012
- found this clean and shiny Norfolk Southern locomotive No. 9029 in
North Little Rock, Thursday April 19, 2012. It's a C40-9W. It looks
like it's been freshly painted with the stallion on the side since
other photos of it I've seen as recently as 2011 didn't have this
stallion on the side, only the front.
TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, AR APRIL 17,
2012
- Here's a few trains in Little Rock, Arkansas on April 17, 2012 plus I
included some photos of UP Centennial Locomotive 6938, on display in
front of UP's Jenks Shops in North Little Rock.
Included:
1) UP 6938, 4588, 4106, 6692, 1706, 1697, 1677, 683, 9813, 1692, 1677,
683, 9813, 1692, 1659
2) CSX 8365, 7579
3) NS 6707
4) Frames
5) NYC 628377 container car
6) GACX 84223 Wisconsin Central hopper
7) GRW 7156 EJ&E container car
8) NAHX 65546 Rock Island hopper
9) NAHX 65612 Rock Island hopper
10) SP 246559 Golden West Service boxcar
11) NS 169515 container car
12) NS 169554 container car
13) SP 246145 boxcar
14) COER 171492 green boxcar blt 01-00
15) TOE 2577 boxcar
16) UP green hoppers
17) Cat
LOTS OF CST LOCOS LITTLE ROCK,
WEDNESDAY APRIL 18, 2012 - Just a few trains at
Union Station in Little Rock, Wednesday April 18, 2012. Lots of CSX
locomotives today.
Included:
1) CSX 5286, 5464, 8236, 7574
2) BNSF 7906
3) UP 1684, 8190, 5010, 4809, 8127
4) SSW 62690 Golden West Service boxcar
5) UTLX 66593 tankcar
6) SIRX 95237 AGP hopper
7) Family watching trains
8) Shade Tree at Union Station
UP 1989 PLUS OTHER TRAINS LITTLE
ROCK, APRIL 20, 2012
- UP 1989, the Rio Grande heritage locomotive, has been release from UP
shops in North Little Rock and was on the YNL75 North Little Rock to
Pine Bluff local Friday afternoon. Here's some photos of 1989 as it
passed Union Station mid afternoon, plus a few other trains passing
Union Station in Little Rock today, Friday, April 20, 2012. Included
are several former Rock Island blue hoppers. I also got some pictures
of an old classic Camaro in the parking lot (since moved away).
Included:
1) LRWN 1541, 1542, 1544
2) UP 6787, 6581,5845, 8281, 9683, 5532, 4884, 7892, 3922, 7382, 5141,
1714, 1708, 1709, 5008, 1989, 4181, 9823
3) ATW 8128 boxcar
4) AOK 14101 boxcar with Halloween pumpkin
5) ATW 25030 Laurinburg and Southern boxcar
6) MKT 4595 grey hopper
7) MWCX 462644, 462601, 462767, 462673 and 462639 former Rock Island
blue hoppers all in a row
8) NYC 627583 CSX coil car
9) MRMX 131348 plus other new hoppers
10) SMIX 9505 Santa Fe large hopper
11) FTIX 2181 and other new hoppers
12) RBMN 9997 Reading & Northern hopper
13) NW 176546 Norfolk and Western hopper, blt 1-79
14) CSXT 496438 coil car
15) Old classic Camaro auto
16) GATX 84070 Wisconsin Central hopper
17) Arkansas State Capitol dome from Amtrak platform
18) Bird and bread
LOTS OF TRAINS AT LITTLE ROCK,
APRIL22, 2012, SUNDAY
- A good number of trains passing Union Station today in Little Rock,
AR, Sunday, April 22, 2012, including a KCS train and my usual 'fallen
flag' freight cars. It was a sunny, cool day, about 72 degrees, perfect
for shooting trains.
I shoot full resolution 16
megapixel photos (7 MB in size, 4,608 pixels wide), but always reduce
them for the Web to only 50-70 kb in size, or 800-1000 pixels wide
instead of 4,608 pixels, so they are viewable easier on the Internet.
At this smaller size, if you print from my website, they will look
grainy if your prints are more that 3x5 inches. If you ever want a full
resolution copy of any of my photos, email me and I'll send you one.
Just remember the full size files are 7 MB or more in size. (Ken Z -
see my contact information at the bottom of the webpage)
Included today:
1) UP 1536, 1917, 1722, 1704, 4506, 5187, 8723, 5671, 5622, 7190, 4316,
2239, 9514, 4997, 1356, 8470, 7721, 5193
2) UP/SP 6346
3) KCS 4545, 4525, 4561 grey and yellow
4) UP/CNW 9696
5) PTLX 342095 Allensville Grain Co. hopper
6) DME 5750 boxcar
7) CNW 178588 hopper
8) ALM 841567 boxcar
9) DGNO 479 blue gondola
10) GRR 2210 on a dump train
11) SP 228801 Golden West Service boxcar
12) CSXT 498611 and a Conrail coil car
13) NYC 627372 rusty coil car
14) CSXT 496060 Steel Pro coil car
15) MP 641676 MoPac buzzsaw gondola
16) NS 467054 boxcar with purple side
17) Devil art on car
18) HS 10118 Corinth & Counce Railroad Company boxcar
19) Top Cat drawing
20) SSW 6290 boxcar
21) CSXT 161775 SCL/LN Family Lines System boxcar, blt 9-77
22) SSW 62738 Golden West Service boxcar
23) AOKX 495505 new hopper and more, blt 4-12
24) FXE 872593 Ferromex boxcar
25) CP 344743 yellow covered coil service gondola
26) LRWN 1488 boxcar
27) HS 655887 boxcar with new paint
28) WC 27756 Wisconsin Central boxcars
29) WW 3080 Winchester & Western hopper
30) BN 467946 green hopper
31) BN 460792 hopper
32) CSXT 223073 hopper
33) WW 9576 Winchester & Western RR hopper, new
34) MKT 4392 hopper, grey
35) D&RGW 10032 UP hopper
36) SPMW7289 hopper, blt 1-87
37) SSW 66859 boxcar, Cotton Belt
38) MMMX 2076 3-M hopper (3-M has a facility in south Little Rock)
39) Blackberries at Amtrak platform
40) Killdeer bird
41) GNWR 24018 boxcar
42) YKR 931 boxcar/baggage car
43) EEC 2666 new paint
44) CNW 520068 CNW green boxcar
45) CSXT 180667 hi-cube boxcar
46) Faded Chessie Cat on CSXT 180756 Chessie System boxcar. Also had an
old color barcode. It was built 11-77
47) NYC 239977 CSX hi-cube boxcar with fresh paint
48) MoPac 13064 red work caboose, which was painted at North Little
Rock in 2009 to go on their work trains
49) MP 3646 crew/work car in North Little Rock, an old UP passenger car
50) UP North Little Rock Terminal marker on 13th Street.
NEW COVERED LOCO WAMX 2703 OTHERS
LITTLE ROCK APRIL 24, 2012
- A few trains and special locomotives April 23 and 24, 2012 at Little
Rock, AR, including new, covered locomotive WAMX 2703 on its way to
Australia, and RSSX 19. (Thanks for the heads-up on WAMX 2703 from John
C. Jones, the UP photographer here in North Little Rock).
Included in no particular order:
1) WAMX 2703, new covered locomotive heading to Australia
2) RSSX 19 locomotive
3) NS 8999
4) UP 4590, 4288, 5010
5) CRLE 119712 NB (?) Southern Railway green boxcar
6) SSPX 31017 Tate & Lyle "Redpath" hopper
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE AND 40TH
ANNIVERSARY TRAIN COMBINED LITTLE ROCK, APRIL 25, 2012
- On Wednesday morning, April 25, 2012, Amtrak's southbound Texas Eagle
No. 21 was combined with Amtrak's 40th anniversary train, arriving at
Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas at 6 a.m. (3 hours
late).
Here are some photos and videos of this train at the station. The 40th
anniversary cars were going to Longview, Texas for display April 28 and
29.
PRIVATE CARS ON AMTRAK 22, TEXAS
EAGLE, LITTLE ROCK APRIL 28, 2012
- On Saturday night, April 28, 2012, Amtrak's Texas Eagle #22 arrived
in Little Rock with 2 private cars on the rear, "Evelyn Henry" and
"Warren Henry." These two cars were going to Chicago and eventually to
the Kentucky Derby. Here are some photos and a link to a movie of the
train leaving at 11:39 p.m., on time to the minute.
TRAINS AND BIRTHDAY CAKE, LITTLE
ROCK, AR APRIL 30, 2012
- ere's a few trains in Little Rock from Monday, April 30, 2012 while I
was waiting to go to a birthday party at the Flying Saucer restaurant.
The party was for me and I added a photo of me and the birthday cake,
taken by my waitress friend there. Sorry, didn't have time to get more
photos.
Included today:
1) UP 9373, 9637, 9592, 3832, 3971, 1619
2) UPY 1158
3) CN 5643
4) UP/CNW 9696 former CNW unit
5) CSX 4728
6) MMMX 2022 3-M hopper
7) D&RGW 25136 hopper
8) MKT 16335 faded red gondola
9) SP 698559 Golden West Service hi-cube boxcar
10) NOKL 571481 Illinois Central grey boxcar
11) Pink rack car
12) CN 798046 hi-cube boxcar
13) TOPX 887256 new or repainted boxcar
14) Me and birthday cake at Flying Saucer
15) Interstate 30/Interstate 40 interchange in rain
TWO FORMER COTTON BELT LOCOS-BLUE
CN LOCO-OTHER TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, MAY 2, 2012
- Here are a few trains on Wednesday, May 2, 2012 at Union Station in
Little Rock, Arkansas. Included is a blue CN locomotive, a rail train,
a Slot Machine dump train, UP/SSW 1992 and I think UP 7665, probably
another former Cotton Belt locomotive.
Included:
1) UP 8029, 9710, 8240, 4306, 5187, 811, 5088, 8185, 9433, 1704, 1712,
1713, 1694, 1722, 1563, 1894, 6999, 9825
2) Unknown locomotive 7655, probably ex-Cotton Belt
3) UP/SSW 1992
4) GMTX 2116
5) CN 2463 blue locomotive
6) BNSF 7552, 5011, 8187 with crude oil train
7) GACX 3509 hopper
8) NYC 238203 CSX hi-cube boxcar
9) CP 85533 green CP Rail boxcar
10) SRCX 2079 Sid Richardson Carbon Co. hopper
11) NS 473523 boxcar
12) Rail Train
13) TILX 332625 and lots of other new hoppers, blt 4-12
14) CN 166384 gondola
15) MWCX 462415 CNW hopper
16) DGNO 479 blue gondola
17) SSW 62917 Golden West Service boxcar
18) GREX 35202 and other Slot Machine dump cars
19) CTCX 733393 and many other crude oil tank cars
RSSX 7016 SWITCHING LOCOMOTIVE
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, MAY 7, 2012
- RSSX 7016 Big West Oil SW1200 switcher in North Little Rock today,
May 7, 2012. According to Eric Augatis from another email
list,
this unit should be going to the former Flying J (now Big West Oil)
refinery in North Salt Lake City, UT. Apparently, Railserve
has
been selected to switch this plant.
IOWA, CHICAGO AND EASTERN - ICE-
LOCOMOTIVES LEADING AN OIL TRAIN, PLUS OTHER TRAIN MAY 5, 2012
- Here's a few trains I saw on Saturday, May 5, 2012, including an ICE
(Iowa, Chicago and Eastern ) headed empty crude oil train and another
new, covered locomotive.
Included:
1) UP 7681, 5145, 4374
2) CSX 5420
3) ICE (Iowa, Chicago and Eastern) 6217, 6100, 6404, 6445
4) WAMX 2704 new covered locomotive
5) CSXT 491091 yellow/white gondola
6) SP 323116 gondola
7) CSXT 493019 new coil car "How Tomorrow Moves"
8) MP 8593 very rusty hopper
9) Full Moon May 5
10) 'Occupy Little Rock' camp
BOTH AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLES MEET
LITTLE ROCK MAY 7, 2012
- It's relatively rare that both Amtrak Texas Eagles arrive in Little
Rock, Arkansas within 25 minutes of each other. But early Monday
morning, May 7, 2012 they did. Eagle #22, the northbound to Chicago,
arrived first at 4:25 a.m., then the southbound Eagle #21 to San
Antonio/Los Angeles, arrived at 4:49 a.m. Both were late. I
was
at the station and got these photos as well as a 7-minute movie of the
trains arriving and all the passenger action.
SEVEN TRAINS IN 2 HOURS FRIDAY,
MAY 11, 2012 LITTLE ROCK
- A small rush of trains today, May 11, 2012, at the station in Little
Rock between 1:28 and 3:25 p.m. (7 trains). I got a couple of trains
passing each other and my usual old freight cars.
Included today:
1) UP 4470, 7917, 9476, 9780, 6442, 3964, 9770, 9571, 1694, 1713, 1563,
7176
2) BNSF 7621, 1025
3) GMTX 2156
4) CN 2509
5) SP 595540 flatcar
6) HLMX 74227 hopper, blt 4-77
7) RGLX 36201 hopper
8) WW 4318 hopper
9) GTW 127086 hy-cube
10) IC 680064 hy-cube
11) FEC 4482 flatcar, built 2-95
12) MP 640965 gondola with MoPac buzzsaw trademark
13) SSW 65086 SP hy-cube boxcar
14) UP 917049 gondola
15) ETTX 802232 BN autorack
16) ACFX 27308 Golden Peanut tankcar
17) GROX 60693 Union Equity hopper
18) BNSF 793586 reefer
EARLY AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE,
SATURDAY NIGHT MAY 12, 2012-NATIONAL TRAIN DAY
- Amtrak's Texas Eagle No. 22 arrived at Little Rock, Arkansas at 11:13
p.m. Saturday night, May 12, 2012, National Train Day. As sometimes
happens with Eagle 22, when everything runs smoothly in Texas and
Arkansas (i.e., no track work, delays or mechanical problems), the
train tonight arrived 18 minutes early, so that meant it sat at Union
Station here until departure time at 11:39 (26 minutes). Here are some
photos, including a closeup of a roach next to the station
dumpster...lol.
TRAINS LITTLE ROCK ON NATIONAL
TRAIN DAY MAY 12, 2012
- Although I didn't get trains in different locations, all these photos
were taken on National Train Day, May 12, 2012 at the station in Little
Rock, Arkansas. There were no special events in Little Rock, but the
Trolley Museum in Fort Smith, AR and I was told the Arkansas &
Missouri Railroad, had special events. It was a light rain today, so
most of my shots were taken from Union Station's balcony. It was a CSX
day with 8 CSX locomotives sighted. I also went there at 11 pm to catch
the early Texas Eagle so I could get it on the same day.
Included:
1) UPY 149
2) UP 8173, 9373, 7361, 4146, 4294, 4886, 5209, 4547, 9514
3) CSX 769, 8082, 8502, 5207, 4772, 7636, 5374, 9023
4) ADN 9857 Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar
5) PBRX 800631 former Amtrak merchandise car
6) PROX 82711 Procor tank
7) ACFX 73403 phosphorous tank cars
8) CCBX 59632 ElastoFlo hopper
9) SOU 565420 Southern boxcar
10) PROX 39116 new Procor tankcar, blt 4-12
11) SP 338024 gondola
12) SP 247108 boxcar, blt 10-79
13) DGNO 498 blue gondola
14) SP 465970 Golden West Service hopper, blt 2-79
15) HOKX 112088 short tankcar
16) PTTX 137069 green pipes
17) EAGX 19052 tankcar "Not For Flammable or Poisonous Liquids)
18) SIRX 175791 CNW hopper, blt 12-75
19) CN 598188 boxcar
20) SOU 527342 boxcar
21) HS 75015 boxcar
22) ATW 114028 boxcar
23) BN 286254 green boxcar
24) SSW 62719 Golden West Service hycube
25) HS 10109 Corinth & Counce RR Co. boxcar
26) MCEX 330620 new hopper, blt 5-12
27) AOKX 495816 new hopper
28) LMIC 260007 flatcar
29) TILX 160199 short tankcar
30) LT 8113 gondola
31) HS 30446 Greenville & Northern Railway boxcar
32) CSXT 180850 blue hycube
33) NYC 239268 CSX hycube
34 CSXT 170615 Chessie System hycube with Chessie the Cat
35) SP 654657 Golden West Service hycube
36) "SLEEPY" autorack, full-side graffiti
37) Union Station balcony shots
38) Amtrak Texas Eagle No. 22 arriving early in Little Rock at 11:13
p.m.
ADN BOXCAR, NEW UP LOCOMOTIVES,
THREE MKT GREEN HOPPERS MAY 13, 2012
- Here's just a handful of photos in Little Rock taken on Mother's Day,
May 13. Included are THREE MKT green hoppers, UP/Rio Grande 1900, and
another Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar. I've also included a
photo
of the Arkansas Queen Riverboat on the Arkansas River, and a narrative
about the navigable Arkansas River and the ghost town of Napoleon, at
the mouth of the Arkansas River where it empties into the Mississippi
River in southeast Arkansas.
Included:
1) UP/Rio Grande 1900
2) UP 1356, 6654, 6803, 3957, new SD70ACe locomotives 8743,
8744, 8745
3) MKT green hoppers 545, 558, 502, all built 4-88
4) ADN 9770 Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar
5) Unripe bright red blackberry
6) "Arkansas Queen" riverboat
7) Information on the Arkansas River and ghost town of Napoleon,
Arkansas, which used to have a railroad
DERAILMENT IN NORTH LITTLE ROCK'S
UP YARDS MAY 18, 2012
- UP had a relatively small derailment just west of the I-30 bridge in
UP's yards in North Little Rock, AR, on Friday, May 18, 2012
in
the morning. I don't know details, but when I took these pictures, it
appeared only a few cars were involved. It tied up UP's Main 1 and Main
2, though, and I got a shot of a stack train detouring on a track north
of the derailment site. If anyone has any more details of what
happened, email me. These photos were taken from the Main Street
Bridge, looking to the east into the sun. (Thanks for the heads up from
John C. Jones and a UP employee)
TRAINS AND SUNSET LITTLE ROCK,
MAY 20, 2012
- Some trains at the station in Little Rock, AR on both Saturday, May
19 and Sunday, May 20, 2012 plus a good sunset on Sunday. No special
trains, but my usual 'fallen flag' freight cars, including 2 faded Rock
Island boxcars.
Included:
1) UP 4715, 5072, 1713, 1694, 1696,
8162, 8187, 5222, 4451, 6677, 7767, 8092, 8676, 4053, 4129, 1706, 1697,
1710, 3821, 1929, 1917, 6326, 8373, 9770
2) CSX 7794, 7928, 7817, 7583, 7325
3) UP/CNW 9771
4) LLPX 2298
5) BNSF 5879, 5884, 4321
6) AGR 77726 newly painted boxcar built in 1979
7) WITX 5822 black hopper
8) SP 609639 Golden West Service lumber cars-several in a row
9) New TILX hoppers, blt 4-12
10) UP 24565 yellow caboose, now on display at entrance to UP's service
area in North Little Rock
11) MKT 553 green hopper
12) CP 34477 CP Rain covered gondola
13) Wisconsin Central gondolas-2
14) NOKL 320177 dark blue Gondola Connection gondola
15) Green pipes loads
16) HS 75328 Rock Island faded blue boxcar
17) HS 3981 New Orleans Public Belt boxcar
18) HS 75284 Rock Island faded boxcar
19) TILX 600669 white and black tankcar
20) MP 705301 hopper
21) BNSF oil train
"12 HOURS AT LITTLE ROCK" TRAINS
MAY 23-24, 2012
- I decided to do a mini train watching event at Little Rock's Union
Station, which I called "12 Hours at Little Rock." So, I went to the
station at 7 p.m., Wednesday night, May 23 and stayed all night until 7
a.m Thursday, May 24, 2012 and counted trains. There was a total during
that 12 hour period of 27 trains. Most of the freights were NOT
photographed except for the lead locomotive's number boards. I took the
number boards only so I'd have a time stamp on my digital camera for
future reference. Photographing moving trains at dark doesn't work
anyway. If you open th lens to get more light, you can't stop the
motion because the shutter speed is too low, so you get a blur. If, on
the other hand, you set the shutter speed high enough to stop the
action, then all you get is a black picture, only seeing the number
boards (which is what I did). I did take photos of both Amtrak trains
and after sunrise on May 24 (a Thursday).
STREETCARS AND RIVERFEST-LITTLE
ROCK, MAY 26, 2012
- Here's some pictures and a couple of movies of two Central Arkansas
Transit streetcars shuttling people from North Little Rock to Riverfest
in Little Rock, on Saturday May 26, 2012.
UP 2002-RAILSERVE 616 MORE LITTLE
ROCK, JUNE 3, 4, 2012 - A few trains at Little
Rock June 3 and 4, 2012, including UP 2002 Olympic unit and Railserve
616 bright yellow switcher.
Included:
1) UP 4937, 2002, 6828, 5915, 9670
2) UP/SP 6395, 6322
3) KCS 4116, 4034
4) Railserve 616 bright yellow switcher
5) UP/CNW 6720, 6708
6) PROX 39173 Procor new tankcar, blt 5-12
7) Four military helicopters
8) HZGX 9686 ballast/rock hopper with solar panels
9) Paid dog walker River Market Little Rock
USDA BOXCAR - OTHER TRAINS LITTLE
ROCK, JUNE 9, 2012 - Trains at Little Rock, AR
Saturday, June 9, 2012, including a USDA green boxcar.
Included today:
1) UP 4886, 4048, 4843, 8107, 3982, 4046, 8156
2) UPY 1440
3) BNSF 6373, 5585, 6053
4) LLPX 2248
5) CSX 215, 328
6) CN 5697
7) Little Rock Streetcar 411
8) Bird
9) FGWX 300000 USDA boxcar, "USDA Grain Inspection, Packers and Stock
Yards Administration"
10) DGNO gondola with scrap metal
11) GFSX 4304 hopper
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS, JUNE 21, 2012
- Trains in Little Rock, Arkansas on Thursday, June 21, 2012, with
motive power from UP, KCS, BNSF and CSX.
Included:
1) UP 9433, 4638, 1674, 1671, 1710, 1824
2) CSX 7899, 506, 60
3) BNSF 4175, 6875, 6062
4) KCS 3968
5) Oil tank cars
6) Budweiser truck
SIX-UNIT CSX TRAIN LITTLE ROCK,
JUNE 22, 2012
- A CSXT Six-pack headed the MFWNL-21, the Fort Worth, Texas to North
Little Rock, Arkansas manifest, on Friday, June 22, 2012 as the train
passed Union Station in Little Rock (ArkRvr - UP's symbol) and also as
it passed a Little Rock & Western eastbound train. (The
'Six-Pack
name was the suggestion of Richard Whitenight of Fort Worth, who
emailed me and others that these 6 CSXT units were on this train. He
said it's the first time he's seen 6 CSXT units on a train in
Arlington, Texas).
VARIOUS ROADNAMES AND TRAINS,
LITTLE ROCK JUNE 23, 2012
- Here's a couple of train and locomotive photos around the Little Rock
area on June 22 and 23, 2012, including BCRail, UP/Rio Grande, UP/SP,
UP/SSW, NS, CSX, UP, LRWN.
Included:
1) UP 4964, 9677, 5061, 4791, 4888, 8066, 1703, 1667, 1679, 1715
2) LRWN 1541, 1542, 1544
3) CSXT 5450, 7551, 7710, 7671, 7596, 7735
4) UP/SP 6151, 6191, 2047
5) UP/SSW Cotton Belt 2094
6) BCRail 4648 and NS unit
7) UP/Rio Grande 1900
8) Cottontail rabbit or Jackrabbit
9) KCS 171361 boxcar
10) GW 6546 OSM gondola (Oregon Steel Mills)
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS, SIX DIFFERENT
ROADNAMES JUNE 24, 2012 - Here's my collection
of train photos at Little Rock, Sunday June 24,
2012. Six different locomotive roadnames.
Included:
1) UP 4436, 4364, 4857, 5324, 5012, 1929, 1356, 4162, 9208, 2328, 9688,
1536
2) CSXT 5392, 8315
3) BNSF 6247, 4408
4) TFM 1623
5) BCRail 4648
6) KCS 4021, 4019
7) CP 607951 red hopper
8) MRMX 131800, new hopper
NEW LITTLE ROCK AND WESTERN
LOCOMOTIVE-OTHER TRAINS LITTLE ROCK JULY 1, 2012
- A 3-train meet (one being a light engine move) plus a 'new' Little
Rock & Western locomotive, LRWN/Meridian & Bigbee 2017,
a GP38,
which just got to the Little Rock & Western the past week. Plus
more trains passing Union Station in Little Rock, Sunday afternoon,
July 1, 2012. It's been over 100 degrees here for several days and dry.
Included:
1) UP 5911, 4512, 3832, 8089, 4623, 1715, 1679, 6861, 97-0 (can't read
3rd number), 6859, 4608
2) BNSF 4095, 4725, 4583
3) LRWN 2017, 1544
4) FSR 253570 MoPac boxcar with buzzsaw
5) CNW 49057 yellow hopper
6) TTPX 604823 pipes
7) TOFX 887271 boxcar
8) TILX 263560 new tankcar and others
9) ADN 9711 Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar in good shape
10) NS 473595 blue boxcar
11) Railfans
NORFOLK SOUTHERN'S 20 HERITAGE
LOCOMOTIVES ON DISPLAY SPENCER, NC JULY 3, 2012
- Norfolk Southern has painted 20 of it's new locomotives in the colors
of its' predecessor railroads. Over 2,000 railfans and others attended
a photo portrait event of all 20 units, plus NS 1030 in the current
paint scheme, on July 3 and 4, 2012 at Spencer, North
Carolina,
home of the North Carolina Transportation Museum. Here are some of my
photos. I have organized the pictures in various sections, each with
its own web page. After this list of the 20 units, I have photos of the
crowd, North Carolina Transportation Museum, banquet the night before
at the Salisbury Depot in Salisbury, NC, and more.
UNPATCHED SP 266-TRAINS LITTLE
ROCK JULY 13, 2012
- Of special interest today, Friday July 13, 2012, is SP 266,
one
of the unpatched SP locomotives running on Union Pacific. Plus a few
more trains at Little Rock, Arkansas. Thank you Mr. Hawkins and Mr.
Reagon for the heads up.
Included today;
1) SP 266 unpatched
2) UP 6430, 5791, 4861, 349, 1724, 1670, 4621, 8468
3) GMTX 2108
4) SSW 8(?)20 long 4-door boxcar
5) ACFX 95887 tankcar
6) Lone Tube flower in weeds and rocks
NS 8114 HERITAGE UNIT-RARE FOR
THIS AREA-AUGUST 2, 2012
- Norfolk Southern heritage locomotive NS 8114 made its first
appearance in Little Rock, Arkansas on Thursday, August 2, 2012. It was
on the MCMNL-01 manifest from Camden, AR to North Little Rock. It
passed Union Station/Amtrak station in Little Rock at 10:23 a.m. under
dark skies and a light rain.
RJ CORMAN LOCOMOTIVE, OTHER
TRAINS LITTLE ROCK AUGUST 3, 2012
- Here's a few train/locomotive photos at Little Rock and North Little
Rock, Arkansas taken on Thursday and Friday, August 2 and 3, 2012. Of
special interest is NS heritage locomotive 8114 (in original Norfolk
Southern paint) and RJ Corman locomotive 2010.
Included:
1) RJ Corman Railpower 2010
2) UP 7426, 7412, 9895, 1683, 1673, 1679, 4892
3) UP/SSW 1937
4) NS 8391, 8114, 9544, 2621
5) ADN 5037 Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar
LATE AMTRAK #21 FRIDAY, AUGUST
10, 2012
- Amtrak 21, the southbound Texas Eagle, arrived at Little Rock,
Arkansas at 12:20 p.m. Friday, August 10, 2012, 9 1/2 hours
late
due to a UP derailment in Illinois, which was caused by a storm that
knocked over 10 container cars. Here are some photos of the Eagle at
the station.
STREETCAR BIRTHDAY PARTY SATURDAY
AUGUST 11, 2012
- Here are some photos from Saturday's birthday party on a rented
Central Arkansas Transit streetcar. Two girls were celebrating their
birthday by renting a streetcar for an hour. One of the 7-year old
girls was expecting the party but I understand the other was not. The
birthday girls names were Kynnedy and Mackenzie. Here's some photos.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS, AUGUST 12,
2012
- Some trains and fallen-flag freight cars today, Sunday August 12,
2012 at Little Rock, AR. Included is UP 1982, the MoPac
Heritage.
UP 1988, the Katy unit, has been in Jenks Shops now for days. I don't
know what's wrong with it. And UP 2001, one of the Olympic units,
passed through here at 6 a.m., but I didn't get photos of it or 1988.
Included:
1) UP 1982, 3484, 6802, 8418, 5831, 6433, 7224, 1714, 8173, 9372, 4910
2) UP/SP 6369
3) BNSF 4110
4) SOO 75051 SOO Lines hopper
5) CP 607708 Canada red hopper
6) UP 96145 newly painted gondola
7) KWT 7004 Tamora-Staplehurst Co-Op Tamora, Nebraska hopper
8) IC 766685 Illinois Central hopper
9) NS 164398 blue coil car
10) McCloud River RR Company boxcar
11) CP 85533 CP green boxcar
BALD KNOB, ARKANSAS TRAINS AND
DEPOT, AUGUST 15, 2012
- On Wednesday, August 15, 2012, my good friend from Texas Jerry and I
went to Bald Knob, Arkansas to visit Arkansas Traveler Hobbies inside
the old Missouri Pacific depot and to watch trains. There's also an
ATCS train monitor inside the station.
Included today:
1) Views inside the Bald Knob depot/hobby shop
2) UP 1959, 7267
3) NS 7703
4) UP/SP 6199
5) BNSF 7275, 6679, 7300
6) Russell, AR depot
7) Old hotel across street from Bald Knob depot
VARIOUS TRAIN-VARIOUS DAYS LITTLE
ROCK, AUGUST 12-16, 2012
- A few trains in the Little Rock area around August 14, but also
including other days. Included are a pink 'Fight Against Cancer'
boxcar, RSSX 8 switcher, sunset at Union Station.
Included:
1) UP 5609, 1716, 1685, 1695, 4919, 4561, 4762, 8101, 5231, 1988
(apart), 1982
2) RSSX 8
3) RBOX 21502 weight lifter boxcar
4) WSOR 503196 "Fight Against Cancer" pink boxcar
5) Sunset with Union Station in foreground
6) Signal bridge with sunset
VARIOUS LOCOMOTIVES N LITTLE ROCK
INCLUDING 1996, AUGUST 22, 2012
- UP 1996, the Southern Pacific heritage unit, UP 6938, newly repainted
Centennial display locomotive at Jenks Shops, SSW 9699 Cotton Belt
unit, and two newly painted RSSX units, No. 4130 and 576, all in North
Little Rock, AR Wednesday, August 22, 2012.
WARBONNET AND OTHER TRAINS LITTLE
ROCK, AUGUST 25, 2012
- Here's a few trains Saturday afternoon, August 25, 2012 at Little
Rock, Arkansas, including a relatively rare BNSF/Santa Fe Warbonnet
locomotive, which was the dpu of a BNSF oil train. I've also included a
couple of flower and sunset shots and a photo of the Moon and Union
Station. Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the Moon, died
today at 82 years old, and I thought a Moon shot would be appropriate.
Included:
1) UP/Rio Grande 1900
2) UP 8584, 4364, 8512, 8574
3) BNSF 6247, 4331, 748-warbonnet
4) Sunset and flowers
5) Union Station and Moon
22 TRAINS LITTLE ROCK ON SUNDAY,
AUGUST 26, 2012
- Sunday, August 26, 2012 was quite busy at the station in Little Rock.
I caught and got photos of 22 trains and 49 locomotives between the
hours of 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. There
were
two BNSF oil trains and both UP Main 1 and Main 2 were occupied with
trains at the same time on several occasions. There were 9 of us
diehard railfans at Union Station today. A heavy shower around 1 p.m.
put the damper on the train watching, but I returned at 3 for more. I
also included a National Hurricane Center forcast for Hurricane Issac.
Included today:
1)
UP 8207, 5606, 6819, 1356, 9698, 8910, 8078, 2217, 8766, 4619, 4337,
8171, 5206, 7464, 8508, 4017, 1685, 1686, 9830, 9780, 7892, 7845, 7350,
8766, 4615, 4725, 4225, 4019, 4895
2) GMTX 2112
3) NS 9351, 6647, 7679, 2629, 9044, 7505, 6710
4) BNSF 5743, 6471, 9820, 5386, 4023, 7779, 5007, 4307
5) CSX 7686, 8883
6) SSW 9699 unpatched
7) UP 217064 hopper
8) CRDX 3093 new hopper built 08-12
9) ADN 5640 faded Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar
10) CSXT 246004 SCL hopper
11) SCRX 4315 hopper built in Paragould, Arkansas with
closeup of specs
12) MKT 517 green hopper
13) BNSF 808106 green BN boxcar built 09-75
14) Heavy rain briefly
15) Pigeon
16) BNSF 793524 reefer
17) GACX 6253 pink Potash hopper
18) FURX 830064 Transportation Corporation of America hopper
19) EAMX 7012 with old black and white Santa Fe logo
20) Screenshot of Hurricane Issac's predicted path as of Sunday night,
August 26
NIGHT TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, AUGUST
28, 2012
- I tried experimenting with high ISO settings to get some night shots
of trains, allowing me to use a high shutter speed so the trains would
not be blurry. I used an ISO setting of 16,000 and shutter speed of
1/325th second. Even though you can see the trains ok, due to the high
ISO setting, there will be some noise in the photos and if you try to
enlarge them, they become worse. So, here's the results, all taken at
Union Station in Little Rock on the night of August 28, 2012. Included
is UP 1996.
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE #22 IN RAIN
AND WIND FROM REMNANTS OF HURRICANE ISSAC, THURSDAY NIGHT, AUGUST 30,
2012
- On Thursday night, August 30, 2012, Amtrak's northbound Texas Eagle,
Number 22, arrived in Little Rock, Arkansas in rain and wind from
former Hurricane Issac. The eye of this former hurricane was located
just a few miles south of Little Rock when the train arrived and we had
heavy rain for hours with wind gusts as high as 40 mph Thursday
afternoon. This storm hit New Orleans a few days before and
moved
slowly north toward Arkansas. I ventured out around midnight
and
got some photos and videos.
"PARTY TRAIN" TO LITTLE
ROCK-AMTRAK EAGLE #22, SEPTEMBER 1, 2012
- Amtrak's Texas Eagle No. 22 northbound at Little Rock Saturday night,
September 1, 2012. What's interesting to me was a small group of
college-age students who rode the train from Arkadelphia, Arkansas
(about an hour south of Little Rock) to Little Rock, where they were
picked up by friends so one person in the group could celebrate his
birthday in Little Rock's River Market district without having to drive
there. After their birthday celebration, they were taken back to the
station to catch southbound Eagle No. 21 back to Arkadelphia, where
someone there picked up the group. Tonight Amtrak was used as a
designated driver! It turns out that both 22 and 21 were on
time,
but had 22 been 2 hours late like a couple of nights ago, this idea
would not have worked. Lucky.
BLUE CN LOCOMOTOTIVE 5427 OTHER
TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, SEPTEMBER 2, 2012
- Trains at the station in Little Rock Sunday, January 2,
2012,
including a blue and white CN locomotive No. 5427 and red MKT gondola
16021. Today I saw locomotives from UP, NS, CP, Ferromex, Patched SP,
UP/DGRW, KCS, and CN.
Included:
1) UP 8225, 7500, 4481, 4432, 1728, 1718, 1686, 8453, 7842, 4653, 2447,
7787, 4422, 4400, 3518
2) NS 9377, 6582
3) CP 9709, 8542
4) Ferromex 4607
5) UP/SP 2047
6) UP/DGRW 1900
7) KCS 4003
8) CN 5427 (blue and white), 2183, 5800
9) WP 38071 boxcar
10) MP X15129 and 15125 long former mail/freight handler cars on
MoPac's passenger trains
11) SP 245303 boxcar
12) MKT 16021 red gondola
13) DGRW 15592 hopper
14) Track workers
WAMX 3306 TARPED LOCO-OTHER
TRAINS SEPTEMBER 9, 2012
- A couple of trains at the station in Little Rock, AR,
Friday,
September 7 and Sunday, September 9, 2012. Included is a new, tarped
locomotive, WAMX 3306.
Included:
1) WAMX 3306 tarped new locomotive
2) UP 4797, 4493
3) CSX 7557
4) KCS Belle
5) CN black and red
6) 10 locomotive-consist on a long freight
TOY CHRISTMAS TRAIN-SLOT
TRAIN-SEPTEMBER 11, 2012 - Here's a few trains
taken Tuesday, September 11 at Little Rock, AR including two passing
trains.
Included:
1) 0-4-0 red and white Christmas train at Cracker Barrel
2) UP 9747, 9732, 6694, 3922, 7240
3) Slot train
BRINKLEY DEPOT 100TH ANNIVERSARY
PARTY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2012
- On Sunday, September 16, 2012, the Brinkley, Arkansas Union Depot
celebrated its' 100th anniversary. It is now the Central Delta Depot
Museum, funded and run by the Central Delta Historical Society. It sits
at the junction of the former Cotton Belt (now Union Pacific's
Jonesboro Sub) and the former Rock Island (abandoned from the Junction
westward 50 miles to Little Rock but still a busy line east of Brinkley
to West Memphis, also around 50 miles, run by Union Pacific as the
Brinkley Sub). It is on the National Register of Historic Places. In
2001, Union Pacific donated the structure to the Central Delta
Historical Society. They were initially planning to raze it, but the
good citizens of Brinkley persuaded UP to donate it.
Here
is a history of the depot, partly condensed from the August 31, 2012
Central Delta Argus-Sun newspaper written by Laura Bussell:
In 1910, Brinkley had railroads that fanned out in seven different
directions, mainly the Rock Island which ran east-west and Cotton Belt
which ran north-south. Smaller, shorter lines also ran through
Brinkley, such as the Brinkley & Marianna, Batesville &
Brinkley, Arkansas Midland, the White River and Helena Division of the
Missouri Pacific, White & Black Railroad (which became part of
the
Rock Island branch that ran northwest of Brinkley). Brinkley was a busy
railroad town a hundred years ago.
By 1911, Brinkley
had 10 Rock Island passenger trains, 4 Cotton Belt passenger trains and
2 Arkansas Midland passenger trains daily. Plus there were 2 mixed
freights daily (meaning that a passenger car or caboose was added to a
regular freight train to haul passengers). An average of 500 passengers
a day passed through the Rock Island's old T-shaped, framed depot used
by the Rock Island, Cotton Belt, and Missouri Pacific (Cotton Belt and
Missouri Pacific paid a rental fee to the Rock Island for joint use of
their depot).
On July 7, 1911, the Arkansas Railroad
Commission ordered the Rock Island to construct a new, $26,000 brick
union station at the same location. A completion date of April 1, 1912
was promised, but due to rising costs, the station wasn't ready to be
opened until September 16, 1912. It is still alive and well today as
the Central Delta Depot Museum, open 7 days a week staffed by
volunteers. I think it's very admirable that the citizens of Brinkley
care about history enough to preserve this structure. FOGGY TRAINS LITTLE ROCK,
SEPTEMBER 16, 2012 - More trains at the station
in Little Rock on a foggy Sunday, September 16, 2012.
Included:
1) UP 8648, 7818, 7735, 6495, 5496, 9732, 5137, 5189, 5137
2) CP 9802
3) CN 2719
4) String of CP hoppers
5) Railfans
6) CRIX 490311 GTA Grain Marketing hopper
TARPED LOCOMOITVE, LRWN AND OTHER
TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2012
- Here's a few trains at Little Rock, AR on Tuesday, September 18,
2012. Included is a tarped locomotive and an unknown container on a
flatcar next to it.
Included:
1) WAMX 3308 plus an unknown load
2) UP 1728, 1686, 1718, 8778
3) LRWN 1541
4)
"Bay Line" BAYL 500. Both LRWN and BAYL are owned by Genesee &
Wyoming, and many of their engines are pooled from one road to another
(thanks to Eric from Facebook).
UP HERITAGE 1996 AND 1983, NORTH
LITTLE ROCK, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012
- UP 1996, the Southern Pacific heritage unit, and 1983, the Western
Pacific heritage unit, in North Little Rock, Arkansas on
Wednesday, September 19, 2012. The previous weekend, these and all the
other Union Pacific heritage locomotives were in North Platte, Nebraska
for Railfest. Later today, these two locos went to Pine Bluff
on
an engine move.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS, STREETCARS
AND AMTRAK SEPTEMBER 20 AND 21, 2012
- rain action in Little Rock, Arkansas on Thursday, September 20, 2012
and Friday, September 21, including Amtrak and streetcars.
Included:
1) Little Rock Streetcar 409
2) BNSF 5280, 7455, 5471
3) CSXT 7750, 7548, 4818, 5481
4) Amtrak 62 heading Texas Eagle 22
5) GMTX 2112
6) UP 9667, UPY 583, UP 9582, 9631
7) Red and blue-tipped pipes
8) MVRY 6208, Mahoning Valley Ry gondola
9) CNW 155546 yellow CNW boxcar
10) FOBX 90006 long tankcar, built 11-98
11) CGTX 31249 new tankcar
12) GATX 211727 new black tank car with bright white center
TWO BNSF EXECUTIVE AND 2 UP/CNW
LOCOS PLUS OTHERS SEPTEMBER 23, 2012
- Trains at Little Rock, AR on Sunday, September 23, 2012, including
two BNSF 'Executive' painted locomotives on an oil train, BNSF 9661 and
9775 (the DPU) and two UP/CNW Operation Lifesaver former CNW
locomotives, UP/CNW 6703 and 6712 (both patched with UP
numbers).
I caught two northbound BNSF oil trains today, plus a blackbird begging
to be photographed next to my car and an interesting cloud overhead.
And my usual old freight cars. I even tried another night freight shot.
Included today:
1) BNSF 4621, 7679 (burn marks in middle), 9321, 9661 (in executive
paint), 9775 (also in executive paint-both SD70Mac's)
2) NS 7585, 9435
3) UP 7088, 5704, 4426, 9527, 7196, 7649, 4404, 6050, 9687, 5927, 7328,
6921, 7912, 7152, 4665
4) UP/CNW 6703, 6712 both Operation Lifesaver
5) BNSF oil train with one tankcar being TREX 1675
6) WC 5417 Wisconsin Central gondola
7) UTLX 647517 blue tank car
8) Southern 531276 boxcar with the Southern 'Green Light' emblem
9) UP 355205 boxcar with the UP trademark
10) AEPX coal cars
11) Blackbird
12) Lone cloud right over sun
13) SSW 42901 Cotton Belt boxcar
14) NYC 221865 Conrail boxcar
15) KWT 5200, Farmer's Co-op Elevator Association, Roland and Nevada,
Iowa hopper
16) MKT 4577 grey hopper
PREX 149 LOCOMOTIVE - OTHERS
LITTLE ROCK, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012
- PREX 149 blue switcher alongside Ferromex 4058 in North Little Rock,
Arkansas, Monday, September 24, 2012. I also took a photo from the
Daisy Bates overpass of the Union Pacific tracks behind Little Rock
Central High School. Great photo angle, but sort of dangerous standing
on this overpass. Also, Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar ADN 9569.
TRAINS LITTLE ROCK PLUS HAWK, MY
CAT TIGGER SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2012
- Little Rock trains on a dark, overcast, cool day with periods of very
light rain. Included today besides trains, are photos of 'our' train
station hawk, a fly at a Sonic Drive-In and my cat Tigger.
Included:
1) UP 5893, 5800, 3885, 3972, 6801, 8077, 8695, 2247, 2276, 4379, 3781,
8134, 6690, 1729, 1730, 7337, 8102, 5001, 9372
2) BNSF 4574, 6262, 5894
3) NS 8712
4) GMTX 2112
5) LLPX 2285, 2222
6) UP/SP 2003
7) Fly at Sonic Drive-in sign
8) Hawk at Union Station
9) Oil tankcars
10) TILX 192192 Global ethanol tankcar
11) DOWX 7100 rusty tankcar
12) NS 472624 with purple monster
13) LLTX 13663 with logs
14) NYC 297862 Conrail hi-cube boxcar
15) CP 608034 Canada red hopper
16) CP 607533 Canada red hopper
17) CP 355207 red gondola
18) WSOR 101528 Wisconsin & Southern blue boxcar
19) Ballast cars
20) NOKL 320362 Gondola Connection blue gondola
21) ALY 91755 red flatcars
22) Wet pink rose
23) My 12-year-old car Tigger
UP 4141, 6938, 1996 AND 2002
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, OCTOBER 2, 2012
- UP 4141 (George Bush Library locomotive), UP 6938 (Centennial
locomotive), UP 2002 (Olympics unit) and UP 1996 (Southern Pacific
heritage unit) in North Little Rock, AR Tuesday, October 2, 2012.
Included are some good night shots of 6938.
UP SPECIAL WITH 1996-1983 NORTH
LITTLE ROCK, OCTOBER 5, 2012
- Union Pacific special 150th anniversary train with UP 1996 (SP
heritage) on one end and UP 1983 (WP heritage) on the other end, Friday
October 5, 2012 in North Little Rock. This train will run from North
Little Rock southward to Little Rock Junction and back a few times on
Saturday, October 6, for dignitaries and UP employees and family. It
can be seen on Saturday passing Union Station if anyone wants to see
it. Thanks to John C. Jones for the heads up. The passenger cars are:
Columbine (dome), Texas Eagle and Feather River.
DISPLAY LOCOMOTIVES FOR 150TH
ANNIVERSARY JENKS SHOPS N LITTLE ROCK OCTOBER 5, 2012
- Displayed locomotives in front of Union Pacific's Jenks Shops in
North Little Rock, Arkansas on Friday, October 5, 2012, the
day
before the 150th anniversary celebration. The displayed locomotives are
UP 4141, the Bush unit, UP 1733, a refurbished SD40-2, and UP 2002, one
of the Salt Lake City Olympic units.
UP 150TH SPECIAL WITH PASSENGERS
AND OTHER TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, OCT 6, 2012
- Union Pacific ran a special train along with having a 150th
anniversary celebration at UP's Jenks Shops in North Little Rock, AR on
Saturday, October 6, 2012. I got a movie of this train passing Union
Station in Little Rock at 9:15 a.m. UP 1996, the Southern Pacific
Heritage unit, was on one end of the train and UP 1983, Western Pacific
unit, was on the other end. It was cold and windy, 48 degrees. Plus
rain moved in later in the day. I also caught a few regular trains,
including a colorful consist with Ferromex, UP and CN locomotives. To
see the initial southbound special passing this location at 9:35 a.m.,
click on this link: http://youtu.be/jEHA4Nd_Y-U Included today:
1) UP 1983, 1996, 4395, 3793, 5706, 4182, 7631, 8437
2) CSXT 8624, 8740
3) Ferromex 4058
4) UPY 1383
5) CN 2174, 2676
6) NYC 22221 Conrail boxcar
7) IFRX 1593 Rio Grande worn hopper
BNSF OIL TRAIN, OTHERS LITTLE
ROCK, SUNDAY 14, OCTOBER, 2012
- Trains on Sunday, October 14, 2012 at Little Rock, AR, including a
BNSF oil train with multi-BNSF paint-schemed locomotives. It started
out cloudy but the sun broke through later in the morning.
Included:
1) UP 5024, 4512, 2290, 4741, 6234, 7718, 7831, 4501, 4609, 5514, 1730,
1576, 1568, 1735, 7428, 6813, 8431, 7837.
2) BNSF 9762 (Executive), 5861, 5681 (Warbonnet), 6600, 4806
3) NS 7659, 8879
4) UP/SP 2047, 2003
5) GMTX 2112
6) KCS 4751 Belle
7) Two Southern Pacific hoppers
8) TRLX 5389 Apasco hopper
9) State Capitol Police car
10) BKTY gondola with a faded red MKT trademark emblem
11) Old rusty Cotton Belt autorack
12) NAHX 6543 and 6730 faded blue Rock Island hoppers
13) MWCX 460325 General Chemical hopper
14) IAPX 1031 Air Liquide tank
15) UP 563214 UP yellow boxcar
16) IRGW (? not sure) 56365 gondola with a faded R on it. What was the
original roadname?
17) MWCX 10124 BN hopper
NEW TIES BEING INSTALLED AT UNION
STATION-LITTLE ROCK, OCTOBER 22, 2012
- A few trains plus a tie gang installing new ties on the Amtrak siding
at Union Station in Little Rock, AR, Monday October 22, 2012.
Included:
1) BNSF 4697
2) UP 9697, 7090, 3474, 1945, 8596, 7418, 8126, 6493, 8189
3) CSX 7661, 7873
4) Butterfly on ballast
5) HLSC Hampton Lumber Sales centerbeam
6) US Illinois rail built 1974
7) WSOR 101507, 101501, 101532, 101520 blue Wisconsin &
Southern boxcars
8) Track working gang
NIGHT TRAINS LITTLE ROCK
INCLUDING TEXAS EAGLE, TUESDAY OCTOBER 23, 2012
- Here's a few trains Tuesday night, October 23, 2012 at Little Rock,
Arkansas, including Amtrak Texas Eagle 22 and UP 1989, the Rio Grande
heritage unit.
Included:
1) BNSF 4529, 6770, 4368
2) BNSF local
3) UP 9794, 1989
4) AMT 14 on Texas Eagle
5) Boarding passengers
6) Artsy shot of Amtrak leaving
CLOSEUP OF THE MOON, NOVEMBER 2,
2012 AT 12:30 A.M.
- Moon over Arkansas at 12:30 a.m. Friday, November 2, 2012 taken with
my Sony 30X HX200V camera. It was a hand-held shot using Shutter
Priority of 1/1000th second to keep the brightness down.
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE LITTLE ROCK,
NOVEMBER 5, 2012
- The northbound Texas Eagle arrived in Little Rock, AR at 11:43 p.m.
Monday, November 5, 2012, 10 minutes late. I also got some shots of UP
and BNSF freights, including a light engine move passing the Eagle as
it was arriving.
PRIVATE CARS ON AMTRAK EAGLE NOV.
8 AND TX EAGLE ON ELECTION NIGHT, NOV 6, 2012
- Amtrak's Texas Eagle, northbound No. 22, on two nights,
Tuesday
November 6 (election night) and Thursday November 8, 2012 at Union
Station in Little Rock, Arkansas. On November 8, the Eagle had 2
private cars on the rear, Nos. 800756 and 800025. I've also included a
link to a movie of the train leaving on November 8.
TEXAS EAGLE WITH EX-SANTA FE DOME
SKY VIEW LITTLE ROCK, FRI NOVEMBER 16, 2012
- Early Friday morning, November 16, 2012 around 3 a.m. , Amtrak's
southbound Texas Eagle No. 21 arrived at Union Station in Little Rock,
Arkansas with former Santa Fe dome/lounge car "Sky View" on the rear.
The car's number was 800966, and currently is lettered for Iowa
Pacific. It was headed to San Antonio for transfer to the Texas State
Railroad near Palestine, Texas for their annual Polar Express Christmas
train. I also included some scenes of Amtrak's regular train and
passengers getting on and off the train. Plus there's a link to view a
Youtube movie of the train arriving and departing. It was 34 degrees
and clear.
UP CEO SPECIAL LITTLE ROCK
NOVEMBER 25, 2012
- Union Pacific CEO special train passing Union Station in Little Rock,
Arkansas on Sunday afternoon, November 25, 2012 on its way from Council
Bluffs, Iowa to Avondale, Louisiana. The train ID was SCBAV-24 lead by
UP 7523. Consist: UPP 2066, Willie James, Columbia River, Kenefick,
Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Powder River, Walter Dean, Overland, and Fox
River.
TRAINS AND SUNSET LITTLE ROCK,
NOVEMBER 24, 2012 - Trains on Saturday, November
24, 2012 at Union Station in Little Rock with a vivid sunset.
Included:
1) UP 6456, 6935, 3542, 8082
2) BNSF 9321, 9775, 4953
3) UP/SP 6395
4) CNW 15534 boxcar
5) CNW 435055 hopper
6) CSXT 136535 boxcar
7) HS 30913 Columbus & Greenville boxcar
8) Sunset at train station
9) Moon in blue sky and black sky
TRAINS AT LITTLE ROCK, NOVEMBER
25, 2012
- Trains passing Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas on Sunday,
November 25, 2012. Included are 8 different roadnames on locomotives,
included two new RSSX switching units.
Included:
1) UP 1929, 4075, 3805, 1726, 1735, 1741, 2096, 9765, 9770, 7692, 4500,
4348, 7523, 7834, 8480
2) UP/SP 2047
3) BNSF 9920
4) HLCX 3814
5) GMTX 2116
6) CSX 829, 804
7) RSSX 46, 4443
8) CN 2140
9) Bird
10) DGRW 15522 hopper
11) Families and dogs
12) TBOX 662705 new boxcar
13) New GNTX 295967 black and yellow rail gon TTX gondola
14) Streetcar from inside Capital Bar and Grill restaurant
15) Union Station viewed from the south side
16) Arkansas Children's Hospital helicopter
AMTRAK'S
TEXAS EAGLE TRIP TO FORT WORTH WITH HERITAGE LOCOMOTIVE 66, DECEMBER
4-5, 2012 - On
Tuesday morning, December 4, 2012, I took a trip from Little Rock,
Arkansas to Fort Worth, Texas and return aboard Amtrak's Texas
Eagle, Nos. 21 and 22. It so happened that Amtrak's 40th
Anniversary Heritage Locomotive No. 66 headed both trains and I got
photos of it in Little Rock, Dallas and Fort Worth. I've also included
links to nine Youtube movies of various aspects of this trip.
HOLLY-TROLLEY CHRISTMAS STREETCAR
DAY, DECEMBER 8, 2012
- This was the annual Holly Trolley Day at Central Arkansas Transit's
Trolley Barn, where Santa and Mrs. Santa greeted kids and everyone rode
the streetcars free. TWO TRAINS LITTLE ROCK DECEMBER
12, 2012
- Just a couple of trains Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at
Little
Rock's Union Station, including a movie of a long mixed freight.
Included today:
1) UP 3494
2) UP/SP 2003-2047
3) MKT red gondola 16468, built 2-70
4) MKT/UP gondola 97006
TRAINS LATE AFTERNOON/NEAR SUNSET
LITTLE ROCK, DECEMBER 21, 2013
- Some train shots taken in late afternoon and near sunset at the
station in Little Rock, AR on Friday, December 21, 2012, including a
work train and NS train. Also some colorful contrails and sunset.
Included:
1) UP 4745, 4947, 5467, 4187, 4656, 7478, 5122
2) CSX 7772
3) NS 9746, 7706
4) RRRX 171077 Farmers Coop hopper
5) RRRX 182986 Klemme Coop Grain hopper, Klemme, Iowa
6) SOO 122837 Canadian Pacific Railway hopper with closeup of emblem
7) NAHX 558421 Grace Davison Cracking Catalysts hopper
8) Moon in darkening sky
9) N206TR helicopter overhead
10) BN 46129 green hopper
11) ATSF 350301 red Santa Fe hopper
12) BTCX 200 Procor hopper
13) Sunset and lots of contrails
14) SSW 70094 with blue Cotton Belt trademark
15) CNW 155348 boxcar
16) Work/Dump train
17) UPS containers
18) Special Chrome enhanced special effects picture
UP
4141-1995 LOTS OF ROADNAMES LITTLE ROCK, DECEMBER 30, 2012
- Interesting day at Union Station in Little Rock,
Arkansas on Sunday
December 30, 2012. I caught 11 different roadnames/paint schemes on
locomotives today including: UP, BNSF, CN, NS, TFM, KCS, Amtrak, UP/SP,
UP/Rio Grande, UP 1995 heritage, UP 4141 Bush unit. It was a cold day
with snow still on the ground from the big Christmas snow 5 days
earlier.
Included:
1) UP 1995, 4141, 7862, 7472, 5862, 6423, 5835, 7000, 4863, 9765, 4376,
7177, 8460, 4798, 1998, 7052, 4344, 4021, 1959, 6964
2) UP/SP 6241
3) KCS Belle 4693, 4108
4) TFM 1615
5) UP/Rio Grande 1900
6) BNSF 4736, 4828, 4585, 5965, 4104
7) NS 8023
8) CN 2266, 5778
9) AMK 191 on Texas Eagle
10) Downed trees from snow/ice
11) TILX 500959 new tankcar Built 12-12
12) KCS 286180 Belle hopper
13) Santa's Elf
14) MKT 16085 red Katy gondola
15) SP 337735 gondola
16) AEPX 30253 coal hopper
17) CP Rail hoppers
18) Pigeons
19) Pipes
20) Arkansas State Capitol lit up for Christmas
21) Iceberg in parking lot
22) Last Amtrak Texas Eagle arrival of 2012 at Little Rock
23) Party at Union Station
24) Union Station at night from Markham Street
2013
UP
1996 SP HERITAGE, OTHER TRAINS LITTLE ROCK JAN 6, 2013 - UP
1996, the SP heritage locomotive, was the highlight of the day at the
station in Little Rock, Arkansas on Sunday, January 6, 2012. I
also got some early morning pre-dawn shots and a few more trains.
Included:
1) UP 1996, 4952, 8615, 6798, 8053, 4611, 1929, 4513, 6558,7723, 4849,
4615, 9768
2) KCS 4797 Belle
3) GPRE Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc hopper
4) CP 220624 Canadian Pacific boxcar
5) SHQX 7321 Targray tankcar with blue, orange and red semi-circle
stripes
6) PROX 39965 new tankcar A FEW
TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, JANUARY 12, 2013 - A
couple of trains Saturday, January 12, 2013, plus some interesting
locomotives, like UP 2001 one of the Olympic units, and red/white/blue
BCRAIL 4606, in Little Rock and North Little Rock, Arkansas. It was
near 70 degrees with heavy rain today, but will drop 30 degrees tonight
as an arctic cold front moves through the state. Flooding was
occurring to the west and north of Little Rock as I edited this web
page.
Included today:
1) UP 4713, 6538, 7514, 2001
2) CN 5711
3) BCRAIL 4606 red, white and blue locomotive
4) Old Arrow-logo Amtrak and new logo Amtrak signs
5) IFRX 350788 green, dirty hopper
6) EAMX 7002 hopper with Santa Fe logo and old 'G'-something 175
markings
7) MKT 507 green Katy hopper
UP 2001 HEADING A LONG FREIGHT
LITTLE ROCK, JANUARY 13, 2013
- UP 2001, one of the Salt Lake City 2001 Olympics locomotives, headed
a southbound train today, plus a BNSF oil train northbound during
sunset headed by two of BNSF's 'Executive' units, plus other trains
passing Little Rock's Union Station, Sunday January 13, 2013.
Included:
1) UP 2001, 4358, 7764, 3585, 4824, 4615, 7417
2) GMTX 2144, 2110
3) LLPX 2222
4) BNSF 9837, 9708, 9271
5) Sunset and tracks
6) CP 85619 CP Rail boxcar
7) CNW 437231 hopper
8) ACFX 40751 makrolon Bayer gondola
NS 6920 VETERANS LOCOMOTIVE NORTH
LITTLE ROCK, AR JANUARY 18, 2013
- Norfolk Southern Honoring Our Veterans locomotive NS 6920, North
Little Rock, Arkansas January 18, 2013, 11:50 p.m. The locomotive came
from Jonesboro to Pine Bluff, Arkansas earlier in the day on MJBPB-18,
then moved to North Little Rock on the YPB88-18, getting to North
Little Rock shortly after 7 p.m. I wasn't available during the day to
chase it as in moved across east and south Arkansas, but managed to get
these night shots in North Little Rock. Since there is various types of
lighting here, I did the best I could with the camera's white balance
settings, trying to get the best natural colors I could.
WEDDING PHOTOS TRAINS LITTLE ROCK
JANUARY 26, 2013
- Saturday, January 26, 2013 was one of the most interesting days I've
had at Union Station in Little Rock. Not only were there a good number
of trains, but an engaged couple were having their photos taken by a
professional photographer on the platform (no, they never went on the
tracks). The photographer gave me permission to also take
pictures,which I did and included a couple on this webpage with trains
in the
background. Also, the BNSF switching local showed up
today and there was the usual variety of locomotive roadnames and
fallen-flag freight cars, including an old Great Northern blue woodchip
car.
Included:
1) UP 5586, 6800, 7222, 6029, 4944, 7111, 3790, 5155, 4381, 8190,
7326, 7453, 3923, 4487, 9742, 3906, 5378, 3991, 2062, UPY 541, UP
6280, 8637
2) KCS 4005
3) BNSF 2163, 3205, 741 (Warbonnet0, 7326, 5403, 1535 (green BN)
4) CSX 7886, 5391
5) NS 8446, 8998, 2757
6) GN blue woodchip hopper 100474
7) DRGW 15551 Rio Grande hopper
8) HS 72284 Corinth & Counce Railroad Co boxcar
9) CNW 155968 boxcar
10) ATGX 76332 XTRA hopper
11) NDYX 824570 hopper
12) CBTX 740543 new tankcar Built 6-12
13) CNW 128395 hopper
14) Dozens of rail box yellow boxcars, including RBOX 32185
15) CNW 752588 yellow hopper
16) CNW 752683 grey Rock Island hopper
17) Pre-wedding photos
18) WLPX 44395 hopper
19) TILX 255082 new tankcar Built 1-13
20) SEAX 10 green woodchip car
21) LBR 6717 Delaware Lackawanna boxcar
22) MKT 16433 red Katy gondola
TRAINS LITTLE ROCK FEBRUARY 1,
2013
- A couple of trains today at Little Rock, including an Illinois
Central gondola and SP Hy-Cube. I've also included engine types: C36-7,
B40-8, AC44CW, SD40N, GP38-2, SD40-2, SD60M, SD70M.
Included:
1) UP 601, 1805, 6350, 1576, 663. 4658
2) TFM 1619
3) CSX 8853, 8779
4) UP 355270 yellow boxcar
5) NKCR 14253 SM boxcar
6) AM 2012 A&M boxcar
7) ICG 765984 Illinois Central gondola
8) SSW 65050 SP Hy-Cube Cushion Car
PIPES AND
TRAINS, LITTLE ROCK, FEBRUARY 3, 2013
- A nice sunny, cool day and a good number of trains at the station in
Little Rock, AR, including some new tankcars and a long load of pipes.
Included:
1)
UP 9598, 3858, 5566, 7744, 1824, 4048, 8317, 596, 7822, 3870, 6913,
UP/SP 6405, UP 6652, 4289, 4175, 4913, 7666, 4437, 8489, 4769, 3790,
7712
2) UP/SSW 2003
3) ALY 91733 red flatcar
4) SP 656242 SP boxcar
5) UTLK 959177 new tankcars built 1-13
6) NS 473558 blue boxcar
7) SP 323133 SP Gondola
8) Arkansas Children's Hospital helicopter
9) TILX 262517 green tankcar
10) TR 585580 blue gondola
11) WE 400046 black gondola
12) Pipe loads
13) Procor new tankcars
14) First daffodils in my yard.
RAIN AND TRAINS, LITTLE ROCK,
INCLUDING NEW SD70ACe's
- Rain, sunshine and trains at Little Rock, Arkansas on Sunday,
February 10, 2013. The day started out rainy with thunder but
ended up sunny in the afternoon. There was various motive power,
including BNSF, CSX, UP, KCS and NS. There were 6 new SD70ACe
locomotives on one stack train, UP 8789, 8791, 8792, 8793, 8794 and
8795. All of my photos on my webpages are reduced in size for the web.
The original resolution photos are 7 times larger.
Included:
1)
UP 5069, 4109, 8793, 8795, 8794, 8792, 8791, 8789, 7002, 5628, 6849,
6569, 8478, 3923, 9617, 9658, 9775, 1700, 1751, 1758, 4861, 3903, 4048,
8672, 4522, 7883, 4174, 6537
2) BNSF 4782, 9924, 9793, 4815, 9157. 9222, 7706
3) CSX 3017
4) NS 9451, 9962, 9885
5) KCS 4015, 4777
6) RSSX 4367
7) TILX 572057 hopper with large "75" on side
8) GTW 126515 Grand Trunk Western hy-cube
9) WW 4913 yellow Winchester & Western hopper
10) MP 659385 Missouri Pacific gondola with buzzsaw
11) UP 563716 yellow UP hy-cube
12) WCPC 3238 high-end gondola with several more
13) MKT 16385 red Katy gondola
14) CSXT 496474 blue coil car
15) NOKL 570333 Big Blue boxcar
16) SRN 7193 Greenville & Northern Railway boxcar
17) KCS 171140 boxcar
18) CHIT 360316 blue gondola
19) CSXT 228067 Chessie hopper with Chessie the Cat, built 3-79
20) CSXT 228166 Chessie hopper with Chessie the Cat
21) GNTX 290151 rail gon gondola, built 12-12
22) ANR 339 Angelina & Neches River Railroad boxcar
23) HS 30424 Sabine River & Northern boxcar
24) PMRX 84078 hopper
25) SCL 20351 Family Lines hopper
26) MKT 586 green Katy hopper
27) Pelicans and birds on the Arkansas River with view of Baring Cross
railroad bridge.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS SUNDAY,
FEBRUARY 17, 2013 - Sunday, February 17, 2013 at
Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas. A few meets today and one train
used the Amtrak siding.
Included:
1) Bank of America red valentine on downtown Little Rock office
building Saturday night .
2) UPY 2635 Genset
3) UP 5774, 8224, 7256, 5851, 5541, 1754, 1753, 1666, 3585, 5538
4) CSX 40, 690
5) CNW/UP 6718 (CNW 8818) and CNW/UP 6710 (former CNW 8808)
6) GMTX 2116
7) SP/UP 2047
8) HESR 208806 boxcar
9) MWCX 101245 BN green woodchip car
10) ADN 53204 Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar "Cushion Service"
11) CNW 340166 gondola Built 3-81
12) VeraLam loads
13) New Procor tankcars
14) ICE 70145 scale car
15) TBOX 62756 new TTX boxcar
16) HLMX 9524 hopper
17) MKT 578 gray hopper
18) MKT 517 green hopper
19) SP 82955 gondola, built 2-79
20) MP 706595 hopper, built 2-77
21) SRN 7304 Marnette Tomahawk & Western Railroad boxcar
LRWN/CP/UP TRAINS LITTLE ROCK
FEBRUARY 22, 2013
- Here's some trains at the station in Little Rock, AR on Friday,
February 22, 2013. Included is a Canadian Pacific oil train northbound
and an increasingly rare Little Rock & Western train, plus I've
included a movie of the LRWN train passing the station (with a long
horn blast toward the end of the video as it was crossing streets west
of Union Station).
Included:
1) UP 5007, 4348, 5066, 1666, 1753, 3905, 4688, 1756
2) Bay Line 500, LRWN 2017
3) CP 9501, 9532 (9501 has sign "Sponsor of RCMP Musician Ride"
4) UP 6404 (former SP)
5) NYC 221521 "Conrail Quality" boxcar
6) PGR 2736 "Progressive Rail" shiny blue boxcar
7) KCS 171816 boxcar
8) Working on Little Rock streetcar overhead wires
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS SUNDAY,
FEBRUARY 24, 2013
- Sunday, February 24, 2013 at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas.
A couple of passing trains today including a BNSF crude oil train and
my usual fallen-flag freight cars.
Included:
1) BNSF 5107, 6199
2) UP 7988, 7197, 4324, 1754, 4237, 4385, 4357, 4237, 5575, 8421, 5545,
5042, 4850
3) UP 6275 patched SP
4) Crude oil train
5) AM 2401 Arkansas & Missouri boxcar
6) TILX 261278 green tankcar
7) TRLX 403 Conrail hopper
8) GATX 3342 black & white tank car
9) Seven TTX yellow boxcars in a row
10) LRWN 2132 boxcar
11) ANR 305, Angelina & Neches River Railroad boxcar
12) CELX 23204 grey tankcar
13) PROX 71127 Procor green tankcar
14) OCPX 80068 grey tankcar
SOGGY BIRD-WET TRAINS LITTLE ROCK
FEBRUARY 25, 2013
- Monday, February 25, 2013 was a rainy and chilly day at Little Rock.
I parked the car and caught a couple of trains at Union Station, plus a
wet bird on the fence.
Included:
1) UP 4206, 4609
2) KCS 4612
3) BNSF 5782, 6043
4) Wet bird
MOON OVER TRAINS LITTLE ROCK
FEBRUARY 27, 2013
- I was on my way home from a restaurant tonight, Wednesday February
27, 2013 about 8:30 pm, when I saw this large, yellowish Moon as I was
crossing the Main Street bridge in North Little Rock. Well, for those
of you who know me personally, this meant a quick grab of the camera
and stopping the car as soon as I could. I drove from the Main Street
bridge to the old Locust Street bridge which crosses Union Pacific's
rail yards, stopped the car and took the photo of the Moon over the
yard. Then I got the picture of the Moon over some freight cars and
finally a closeup.
AMTRAK AND NIGHT KCS ACTION
LITTLE ROCK FEBRUARY 28, 2013
- Amtrak's Texas Eagle northbound #22 at Little Rock's Union Station
around midnight February 28, 2013 plus some night freight action.
Included:
1) KCS 4015, 4777, 4051
2) UP 7363
3) AMTK 54
4) KCS ballast train
5) Private passenger cars WRCX 800148 and 800149, Warren R and Evelyn A
Henry
TWO TRAINS AND LOTS OF RARE
FREIGHT CARS LITTLE ROCK MARCH 2, 2013
- I was only at the Little Rock station long enough today, March 2,
2013, to get two trains, but they had lots of interesting freight cars,
many of which had roadnames I hadn't seen before, including a Cheek
gondola and a corrugated yellow UP gondola. Plus my favorite, an MKT
green hopper. Very chilly with snow flurries and temperatures just
above freezing in the morning.
Included:
1) UP 7171, 6597, 2972, 3944, 4353, 9656
2) GMTX 2612
3) NYC 223076 Conrail boxcar
4) UP 914356 gondola
5) CNW 74512 green CNW gondola
6) GNTX 290099 TTX gondola
7) UP 96360 new gondola
8) SRCX 4339 hopper
9) UP 98285 yellow corrugated gondola, built 1-80
10) EAMX 901319 gondola
11) WC 27521 Wisconsin Central boxcar
12) HZGX 3325 Herzog gondola
13) WC 26983 Wisconsin Central boxcar
14) Snow on black tankcars
15) MWCX 100565 BN green woodchip car/hopper
16) TR blue gondolas 585525, 585678, 585606, 585589
17) NS 612229 coil car
18) Plastic covered lumber cars
19) NOYX 138 CHEEK gondola
20) IFRX 41009 woodchip car
21) SP 35511(x) and 355241woodchip cars
22) PROX 36299 new tankcar
23) DWC 794686 CN boxcar
24) TILX 639883 Verasun Energy hopper
25) AM 551 Arkansas & Missouri boxcar
26) TCTX 142 hopper
27) TILX 35081 gondola
28) MKT 558 green hopper
29) LW 66401 gondola
MYSTERY CSX CONTAINER TRAIN
LITTLE ROCK PLUS SUNSET MARCH 3, 2013
- Some end of day trains at Little Rock Sunday, March 3, 2013,
including a CSX train of dozens of flatcars with one large container on
each one. This train was headed by CSX 5371 and one of the heavy duty
cars was QTTX 131338. Anyone know what was being carried on this train?
Also a BNSF train and pretty sunset over the tracks. I had just
finished going to a Cirque Du Saliet acrobat performance at Verizon
Arena in North Little Rock (the show heads to Houston, Texas
on
March 6), then I headed to Union Station.
ALASKAN HOPPER PLUS TRAINS AND
SUNSET LITTLE ROCK MARCH 14, 2013
- Here's a few trains passing Union Station in Little Rock Thursday,
March 14, 2013. There was an "Alaskan Agriculture Serving Alaska and
the World" hopper, which I've never seen before plus other fallen-flag
freight cars.
Included:
1) LRWN 2917
2) UP 7937, 7387, 4085, 3473, 8642
3) Ferromex 4683, Ferrocarril Mexicano
4) BNSF 7025
5) CSX 36
6) INTX 35049 GLC Great Lakes Carbon hopper
7) GATX 8829 short white and black tankcar
8) DOLX 8072 Agricultural Census May 15 hopper
9) VMSX 3115 new tankcar
10) CRDX 7995 Corn Sweetener hopper
11) IC 151 (?) Alaskan Agriculture Serving Alaska and the World hopper
12) CN 10956 Canada hopper
13) CP 218331 Canadian Pacific Railway red boxcar
14) OLGX 34535 white tankcar
15) Railfans
16) UP 211079 coil/container car
17) Sunset and same sunset made into a kaleidoscope art print
BUSY AMTRAK STATION LITTLE ROCK
MARCH 15, 2013
- Amtrak Texas Eagle, #22, had a large number of passengers board at
Little Rock, Arkansas around midnight on Friday night, March 15,
2013. This was partly due to it being the start of Spring
break.
All the passengers were individual family units, no large groups, this
was just average train riders. The Eagle was 10 minutes early
getting to the station and left for St Louis and Chicago just a few
minutes late. The Little Rock Amtrak station has only one agent on duty
at train-time and he was swamped on this night. This station does not
have the official Amtrak volunteer program like other stations do on
the Texas Eagle route. Of course, since Little Rock is an Amtrak crew
base, others helped out. Here are some photos, some taken from my cell
phone, others with my Sony A-77 digital. As always, I try to keep my
distance from passengers - I use my zoom lens when I can.
UP 1995, KCS TRAIN, CHESSIE THE
CAT BOXCAR PLUS-LITTLE ROCK MARCH 16, 2013 - A
variety of trains and motive power today, including UP 1995, the CNW
heritage unit and a KCS train, plus the Lucky 7 engine, UP 7777.
Included:
1) UP 7777, 7899, 4020, 9758, 5545, 8446, 4967, 7523, 1995, 9614,
9735, 4700, 7511, 4834, 4872, 4132, 7244, 4323, 4454
2) CSX 7837
3) UP 6243, former Southern Pacific
4) KCS 4051, 4000, 4002
5) BNSF 4440
6) POTX 2879 Potash Corp pink hopper
7) ADN 9844, Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar
8) SSW 70489 Cotton Belt hopper
9) CSXT 180740 hycube boxcar
10) CSXT 180615 Chessie with sleeping cat hycube boxcar
11) Bird
12) DGRW 25146 black gondola
13) Saved halloween scarecrow in trash can-lol
HS 1071 HERITAGE LOCOMOTIVE ON
OIL TRAIN LITTLE ROCK MARCH 17, 2013
- NS 1071, the Jersey Central heritage locomotive, passed Union Station
in Little Rock, Arkansas Sunday, March 17, 2013 at 9:15 a.m. CDT. It
was headed north with an empty oil tank train. It had originated at St
James, Louisiana and is going to Illinois to be interchanged with
another railroad. Train ID was OSJEP-15. The 1071 was third
in
the consist, consisting of NS 1025, NS 1000, NS 1071 and BNSF 4624.
Thanks to several UP people and railfans for giving a heads up.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS MARCH 17, 2013
- Sunday, March 17, 2013, St Patrick's Day, was a busy day at Union
Station in Little Rock, Arkansas. A special treat was Norfolk Southern
heritage locomotive 1071, the Jersey Central unit and several railfans
came out just to see this unit.. It was drizzly and cold, in the 40s.
Included today:
1) SP 319 unpartched-blurry picture
2) UP 4865, 7396, 3858, 4291, 4744, 9698
3) NS 8987, 9426, 1025, 1000, 1071
4) BNSF 4624
5) UP 6213, former SP
6) KCS 4508, 4549
7) SDPX 97100 South Dakota Soybean Processors tankcar
8) FXE 930379 gondola
9) Kaleidoscope special effect I did with one of my sunset picture
AMTRAK 22 TEXAS EAGLE LITTLE ROCK
MARCH 25, 2013
- Amtrak's Texas Eagle, northbound number 22, arrived at Little Rock,
Arkansas at 2:01 a.m. Monday, March 25, 2013, about 2 hours late. This
was the first northbound train to go all the way to St Louis and
Chicago since the UP freight derailment 40 miles northeast of here a
couple of days ago. That track has been fixed and normal Amtrak traffic
will continue. It was windy and cold, 33 degrees, winds gusting to 35
mph.
MA&PA BOXCAR, AMTRAK,
VARIOUS TRAINS LITTLE ROCK MARCH23-25, 2013
- Here are some trains at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas on both
Saturday and Sunday, March 23 and 24, 2013. It was cold and windy, in
the 40s, with gusts to 40 mph. Included are some night shots (I even
got two MKT green hoppers passing the station at 1 in the morning while
I was waiting for Amtrak's Texas Eagle). Plus I finally got a photo of
the Ma & Pa boxcar.
Included:
1) UP 4173, 9679, 4263, 2076, 4100, 658, 4440, 5026, 1758, 1766, 1667,
1758, 1576, 1751, 7888, 8727, 8788, 7494
2) BNSF 7025
3) CSX 4824
4) NS 8084
5) AMTK 61
6) GMTX 2611
7) KCS 4123
8) Ferromex 4683
9) EEC 2020 'Ma and Pa' boxcar
10) CSTX 502345 blue boxcar
11) EUSX 448022 long tankcar
12) SRN 5429 New Orleans Public Belt boxcar
13) DRGW 25163 ballast hopper
14) Purple flowers on tree trunk
15) Tree blossoms at Arkansas State Capitol
16) NW 9174 gondola
17) UP 211115 coil car
18) HS 30934 Columbus & Greenville boxcar
19) PVCX 13419 white tankcar
20) MKT green hoppers 554 and 558
STORMY EASTER TRAINS LITTLE ROCK,
MARCH 31,2013
- A few trains on a dark, stormy Easter morning in Little Rock
on
Sunday, March 31, 2013. I started out on the station's patio, but heard
other rail-fans talking below at track level, so I went there to take
photos. As a result, there will be some clutter in these photos since I
didn't want to get my camera wet by going on the Amtrak platform.
Included:
1) UP 5515, 4959, 6522, 3923, 4934, 8668, 7238, 7417, 5592
2) UP patched SP 6370
3) CSXT 507508 blue CSX boxcar
4) CNW 180285 yellow hopper
5) AOK 6546 wheels on flatcar
6) DJJX 12017 covered gondola
7) SEAX 12 woodchip car
8) ACFX 70303 blue tankcar
9) GATX 52816 black & white short tankcar
10) TTZX centerbeam with yellow load
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS INCLUDING KATY
HOPPER, APRIL 1, 2013
- A couple of trains at Union Station in Little Rock,
Arkansas
April 1, 2013, including two green MKT hoppers and a Gifford Hill
hopper.
Included:
1) UP 7352, 3947, 8380, 7741, 3479, 3577, 9809, 3554, 8572
2) GNTX 296016 hopper, blt 11/12
3) CR 609034 gondola with coils
4) GRW 87711 gondola with coils
5) HS 30816 boxcar
6) HLMX 74241 gondola
7) HZGX 8247 hopper
8) GLMX 1570 Gifford Hill gondola
9) D&RGW 15613 Rio Grande hoper
10) MKT 585 and 596 green hoppers
11) CNW 437201 white hopper
12) MKT 4461 grey hopper
13) EAMX 659 gondola
14) View from inside the Amtrak station, which is open during the day
only on Mondays but is open every night overnight.
MONTANA DAYLIGHT DOME CAR NORTH
LITTLE ROCK APRIL 13, 2013
- Thanks to John C Jones and another source at Union Pacific,
I
was able to photograph this rare passenger domecar in North Little Rock
on April 3, 2013. The domecar is MRLX 9410, former Great Northern
passenger dome with "Montana Daylight" just below the dome and
"Emerson" as the car's name below the windows.
NS 1071 HERITAGE CENTRAL OF NEW
JERSEY LOCOMOTIVE LITTLE ROCK, APRIL 6, 2013
- On Saturday, April 6, 2013, NS 1071, the heritage Central of New
Jersey unit, came through Little Rock the second time in three weeks on
the northbound empty oil train from St James, Louisiana, OSJEB-4. NS
1000 and 1025 were also on the train again. Here are some photos.
US ARMY LOCOMOTIVE AND OTHER
TRAIN LITTLE ROCK APRIL 7, 2013
- Several trains at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas on Sunday,
April 7, 2013, including a US Army engine and another BNSF oil train.
Included:
1) UP 4660, 4607, 1686, 1760, 1767, 7982, 5036, 3624, 1950, 1685, 4163,
4573
2) BNSF 9103
3) United States Army 1878
4) NW 182897 Norfolk and Western hopper plus two more
5) MSPX 10004 phosphorous containers
6) NYC 223002 Conrail boxcar
7) LW 50002 boxcar
8) Railroad tie loads
9) TOE 3044 boxcar built in 1980, repainted recently
10) BN 451747 and 462063 hoppers
11) DODX 42333 yellow flatcars
12) Waving boy
13) SIEX 3107 Great Northern woodchip car
14) MWCX 101226 woodchip car
15) WP 3830 boxcar
16) Green CNW boxcar 520072
17) PROX 72700 new tank car built 03-13
18) Amtrak sign and wheelchair shed
RSSX SWITCHERS, SP TANK CAR, MANY
OTHERS TRAINS LITLE ROCK APRIL 3, 4, 2013
- Here's a few train pictures from April 3 and 4, 2013, in Little Rock
and North Little Rock. Some interesting cars, including a somewhat rare
Southern Pacific tank car and two Santa Fe locomotives (2443 and 2442)
still with all their Santa Fe markings, lettered for the AOK Railroad.
Also RSSX 904 and a dirty RSSX 19 switching locomotive. And lots more.
Included:
1) UP 7370, 3856, 8001, 8114, 4887, 5488, 8769
2) NS 9163
3) BNSF 2937, 2885, 2780, 8604 some in blue/yellow Santa Fe colors
4) RSSX 904, 19
5) Santa Fe (AOK) 2443, 2442
6) KCS 4107 Belle
7) HLCX 3824
8) Union Station in daylight showing all the cars of office workers
9) UP 366232 and 256267 yellow Union Pacific boxcars with the UP emblem
10) CSXT 180680 CSX hycube boxcar
11) NS 458002 hycube boxcar built 2-79
12) MWAX 2017 gondolas with the yellow circles
13) SP 67336 Southern Pacific tank car built 5-74
14) TBOX 662697 new boxcar built 11-12
15) MWCX green woodchip cars
16) SAMX 11348 hopper
17) GROX 60662 yellow Union Equity hopper
18) GATX 1993 TankTrainer blue tank car
19) GATX 101898 GATX Classroom boxcar
20) SP 355240 SP boxcar
21) HPJX 945266 gondola
22) SP 496316 UP hopper
23) NCHX 38817 indusmin hopper
24) GATX 21098 tank car
25) INFX 408142 tank car
26) CSS 45004 coil cars
27) CNW 437113 hopper
28) CRLE 6423, 6418 light blue boxcars
29) ITTX 931296 flatcar carrying CN 137826 gondola
30) CNW 52006 green boxcar
VARIOUS TRAIN LITTLE ROCK APRIL 3
AND 4, 2013
- Here's a few train pictures from April 3 and 4, 2013, in Little Rock
and North Little Rock. Some interesting cars, including a somewhat rare
Southern Pacific tank car and two Santa Fe locomotives (2443 and 2442)
still with all their Santa Fe markings, lettered for the AOK Railroad.
Also RSSX 904 and a dirty RSSX 19 switching locomotive.
Included:
1) UP 7370, 3856, 8001, 8114, 4887, 5488, 8769
2) NS 9163
3) BNSF 2937, 2885, 2780, 8604 some in blue/yellow Santa Fe colors
4) RSSX 904, 19
5) Santa Fe (AOK) 2443, 2442
6) KCS 4107 Belle
7) HLCX 3824
8) Union Station in daylight showing all the cars of office workers
9) UP 366232 and 256267 yellow Union Pacific boxcars with the UP emblem
10) CSXT 180680 CSX hycube boxcar
11) NS 458002 hycube boxcar built 2-79
12) MWAX 2017 gondolas with the yellow circles
13) SP 67336 Southern Pacific tank car built 5-74
14) TBOX 662697 new boxcar built 11-12
15) MWCX green woodchip cars
16) SAMX 11348 hopper
17) GROX 60662 yellow Union Equity hopper
18) GATX 1993 TankTrainer blue tank car
19) GATX 101898 GATX Classroom boxcar
20) SP 355240 SP boxcar
21) HPJX 945266 gondola
22) SP 496316 UP hopper
23) NCHX 38817 indusmin hopper
24) GATX 21098 tank car
25) INFX 408142 tank car
26) CSS 45004 coil cars
27) CNW 437113 hopper
28) CRLE 6423, 6418 light blue boxcars
29) ITTX 931296 flatcar carrying CN 137826 gondola
30) CNW 52006 green boxcar
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS APRIL 17, 2013
WITH NIKON 5200
- After a short break in train-watching doing other non-railfan
activities, I finally got back to the station in Little Rock, Arkansas
on Wednesday, April 17, 2013 and got these trains passing the station.
Included is another of any BNSF northbound empty oil trains. It was in
the mid 80s and partly cloudy.
Included today:
1) Mockingbird on my roof
2) UP 8522, 4607, 8312, 4343, 3871, 4245
3) CSX 4798, 4752
4) BNSF 4318, 5031, 4828
5) TOFX 887279 boxcar
6) FCRD 355 Golden Triangle Railroad boxcar
7) CSXT 30652 boxcar
8) ECQX 57536 ECI hopper, built 8-77
9) HESI 208806 boxcar
10) BNSF 409218 hopper
11) BNSF 808000 Santa Fe hopper
12) SSW 62724 Cotton Belt hycube boxcar
13) HS 72150 boxcar
14) Purple Iris
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLES MEET LITTLE
ROCK 3 A.M. APRIL 18, 2013
- On Wednesday night/Thursday morning, April 17-18, 2013, both of
Amtrak's Texas Eagles Nos. 21 and 22 met at Little Rock around 3 a.m.
(the northbound Eagle 22 was caught behind a stalled freight between
Marshall, Texas and Jefferson, Texas for almost 3 hours, so it was 3
hours late into Little Rock, meeting northbound No. 21 here, which was
on time but it had to wait in the yard for 22 to leave). So naturally,
I went to Union Station to get photos.
UP 1996 SOUTHERN PACIFIC HERITAGE
LITTLE ROCK AT NIGHT APRIL 27, 2013
- UP 1996, the Southern Pacific Heritage unit, passed Union Station in
Little Rock, Arkansas on Saturday night, April 27, 2013, at 10:17 p.m.
on the North Little Rock bound QSPNL-27. I used a high sensitivity
12,800 ISO to get the shots from the Amtrak platform so I could use a
shutter speed of 1/250th so the train wouldn't be as blurry. You will,
of course, see some noise in the photo. I also included other trains
tonight including two other UP freights and CN and CSX locomotives, and
the 'airplane' graffiti on autorack TTGX 160854.
LATE TEXAS EAGLE MARSHALL, TEXAS
MAY 4, 2013
- On Saturday, May 4, 2013, I was on my way back to Arkansas from Texas
when I checked the Amtrak app on my Droid RAZR smartphone and it said
the southbound Amtrak Texas Eagle 21 was over 4 hours late and would
arrive at Marshall, Texas at 12:09 p.m. instead of 7:40 a.m. It was
cool and clear, so I hurried to Marshall and went on the station's
balcony and got some photos of the Eagle arriving and departing. I also
got several freights, but I'll put those photos on another webpage in
the next few days.
NATIONAL TRAIN DAY LITTLE ROCK
MAY 11, 2013
- Amtrak had a display train at Union Station in Little Rock,
AR
all day for families to walk through. The mayor of Little Rock, Mike
Stodola, spoke briefly at 11:15 a.m. I also included some
night
shots of the display train being hooked onto the regular Texas Eagle at
midnight.
UP 1988 KATY UNIT OTHER TRAINS
LITTLE ROCK MAY 13, 2013
- A few trains today, May 13, 2013, at Union Station at
Little
Rock, Arkansas, including UP 1988, the Katy heritage unit. Mr. Rudolph
and Mr. McCoy were with me. It was sunny and warm.
LATE AFTERNOON TRAINS LITTLE ROCK
MAY 16, 2013
- Some late afternoon trains at Union Station in Little Rock, AR late
Thursday afternoon, May 16, 2013 in overcast and drizzle. These shots
were taken from the station's balcony. I also included a
photo of
a Yellow Shafted Flicker a type of woodpecker, in my backyard in North
Little Rock, plus a shot of Union Station and the Arkansas State
Capitol in one view at twilight.
Included:
1) UP 638, 4675, 8600, 1771, 1780,1760,4435, 4380
2) LRWN 500 (The Bay Line), 2017
3) NS 2699
4) BNSF 5325, 4905
5) SSW 70013 hopper
6) DRGW 15569 orange hopper
7) HXDX 3269 faded old Herzog hopper
8) SOO 19067 boxcar
9) Security cameras at station
10) CN 13613 gondola
11) Union Station balcony
12) ATW 8091 blue boxcar
13) ATW 75030 Laurinburg & Southern boxcar
14) LRWN 2106 box
15) WLPX 'Cat in the Hat' Dr. Hbak hopper
16) SRN 5704 boxcar
17) CNW 520009 green boxcar
18) SIRX 52549 hopper
19) DME 5735 boxcar
20) CEFX blue hopper
21) Union Station and Arkansas State Capitol in one view at dusk
22) Yellow Shafted Flicker bird, woodpecker family, in my back yard.
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE 21 WITH
EXHIBITION CARS ATTACHED LITTLE ROCK, MAY 17. 2013
- Amtrak 21, the southbound Texas Eagle, had Amtrak's exhibit cars
attached as it arrived in Little Rock, Arkansas Friday, May 17, 2013 at
4:40 a.m.. The exhibition cars were on their way to Hope, Arkansas for
displaying. Hope just became an Amtrak stop in the past few weeks.
Consist of this train:
CHI-SAS P40 Loco 168
CHI SAS P40 Loco 112
CHI-SAS 39042 CREW DORM/PSGR SLEEPER
CHI-SAS 34050 COACH
CHI-SAS 31014 BAGGAGE COACH
CHI-SAS 33002 LOUNGE
CHI-SAS 37001 DINER/LOUNGE
CHI-SAS 34057 COACH
CHI-SAS 32057 SLEEPER
CHI HOP 37011 EXIBITION TRAIN diner-lounge
CHI HOP 39031 EXIBITION TRAIN dorm sleeper
CHI HOP 85999 EXIBITION TRAIN amcafe
CHI HOP 10095 EXIBITION TRAIN baggage
CHI HOP 10094 EXIBITION TRAIN baggage
CHI HOP 10093 EXIBITION TRAIN baggage
CHI HOP 10020 EXIBITION TRAIN sleeper Pacific Bend (crew)
CHI HOP 406 EXIBITION
TRAIN non powered control unit
CHI HOP 822 EXIBITION
TRAIN P40 locomotive
NEW CN LOCOMOTIVE, CNW OPERATION
LIFESAVER, MORE TRAIN MAY 22, 2013
- A few trains today, Wednesday May 22, 2013, passing Union Station
plus a photo of the station itself with its' normally full parking lot
of people who work there. Also, a new or newly painted CN locomotive,
5486, and the UP -CNW Operation Lifesaver unit 6721, former CNW 8819.
Included:
1) UP 8896, 6238, 4343, 4285, 9677, 6856, 5637, 3857
2) UP 6721 former CNW 8819 Operation Lifesaver locomotive
3) CN 5486 either new or newly repainted, clean and shiny
4) Busy Union Station in the daytime with the parking lot full
5) JTSX flats with beams
6) GATX 213713 new tank car, built May 2013
7) CPAA 207168 boxcar
8) MKT 97000 UP gondola
9) MP 41179 Missouri Pacific gondola with red buzzsaw
10) New TOE 3185 boxcar
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS, RICELAND
TANK, OTHERS, MAY 23, 2013
- A few trains today, May 23, 2013, at the station at Little Rock,
Arkansas, including a BNSF empty oil train, a Riceland tankcar,
Southern Illinois Railcar hopper and former Green Bay Route boxcar.
Included:
1) UP 4884, 4426
2) BNSF 9074, 8986, 8968
3) NATX 50553 Riceland tankcar
4) GACX 516158 Southern Illinois Railcar hopper
5) SRN 5636 boxcar
6) SRN 5867 boxcar
7) SRN 5686 Green Bay Route blue boxcar
8) SOU 528935 Southern boxcar
9) EEC 5681 Wisconsin Central boxcar
10) EEC 8158 boxcar
BNSF/CST OIL TRAIN, OTHER TRAINS
LITTLE ROCK, MAY 25, 2013
- Little Rock, Arkansas trains at Union Station on Saturday, May 25,
2013 plus some streetcar photos taking riders to the annual Riverfest
event in the River Market downtown. There was a usual BNSF empty oil
train, but it had two CSX locomotives, which I hadn't seen on an oil
train through here before.
Included:
1) UP 4076, 4300, 7650, 4157, 5544, 8523, 5654, 3941
2) NS 2692, 2689
3) BNSF 9969
4) CSX 5380, 3094
5) SOO 122547 CP hopper
6) Streetcars/Riverfest photos
7) ICG 245681 gondola
8) CSXT 493018 coilcar
9) SGLR bright pink centerbeam car
10) GNTX 290160 TTX gondola with scrap metal
11) IHB 19364 gondola
12) SP 656479 Golden West Service boxcar
13) GPFX 638 FCC Catalysts hopper
14) KCS 129070 boxcar
15) IHB 166498 coilcar
16) BNSF 808054 buffer car
17) Closeup of some kind of fly
18) HESR 208818 with old markings of "LA---Franklin---Road Company" and
other words
19) HESR 20039 blue boxcar
20) Truck/car frames
21) Old Yellow Taxi
STREETCARS AND RIVERFEST, MAY
24-25, 2013
- Here's a few of Central Arkansas Transit's River Rail Streetcars
ferrying visitors to the annual Riverfest activities in Little Rock and
North Little Rock, May 24 and 25, 2013.
APPROACHING STORM AND TRAINS
LITTLE ROCK, MAY 26, 2013
- After I went to the Riverfest annual event in downtown Little Rock on
Sunday, May 26, 2013, I went to Union Station (of course) to get some
train pictures on this Memorial Day weekend. During my picture-taking,
a thunderstorm moved in from the south and made for some interesting
train photography as the clouds thickened darkened. One train had lots
of BNSF hoppers and there was a long string of Department of Defense
(DODX) empty flatcars. I also included a few more streetcar pictures at
Riverfest.
Included:
1) Streetcars at Little Rock's Riverfest
2) UP 4303, 5845, 8724, 4426, 4678, 8529, 7484
3) NS 7589
4) NDYX 558664
5) BNSF 406249, 405649 hoppers
6) ATSF 35019 Santa Fe hopper
7) DODX empty flats
8) QTTX 130707 heavy duty flatcar
9) MKT 16127 red gondola
10) DRGW 30104 gondola
NS 8101 CENTRAL OF GEORGIA
HERITAGE LITTLE ROCK MAY 27, 2013
- NS 8101, the Central of Georgia heritage, made another run past Union
Station in Little Rock, AR this evening, May 27, 2013 at 9:20 p.m. It
was the leader of a BNSF empty oil train from St James, Louisiana back
to the oil fields in North Dakota, I assume. Lighting on the Amtrak
platform was sufficient for photography at a high ISO sensitivity
setting of 16,000. You'll see some grain if you zoom in. Another NS
Heritage, NS 8025 Monongahela, will be in Arkansas tomorrow, May 28, on
another oil train.
NW 8025 heriitage loco Monongela
Little Rock May 31, 2013
- NS 8025, the NS heritage locomotive Monongahela was the second unit
of two leading a northbound oil train past Little Rock's Union Station
on Friday, May 31, 2013 at 5:56 in the morning. I braved the sometimes
heavy rain and darkness to get these few shots. The sun was beginning
to brighten the skies a little, but I had to sit in the car to get the
shot to prevent my expensive camera from getting wet, and my windshield
wipers weren't keeping the rain off the windshield fast enough to get a
clear shot. But I did get some. The train was the OSNES-30 originating
in St James, Louisiana. It left Pine Bluff, AR at 3:30 a.m. and got
here at 5:56 a.m. The train was led by NS 1001.
STORMY DAY AT UNION STATION
LITTLE ROCK, JUNE 1, 2013
- Another stormy day in Little Rock, Arkansas, Saturday June 1, 2013.
Flash flood warnings were over much of the state, including here at
Union Station. So, naturally I ventured out to the station to get some
train shots. Having worked 32 years for NOAA/National Weather Service,
I love active weather and love taking photos of rain and trains. There
were only two trains, one BNSF northbound oil train with a couple of
'executive' locomotives, BNSF 9750 (lead unit) and BNSF 9671
(dpu) plus BNSF 9166, and a southbound UP welded rail train, led by UP
5106. The empty welded rail train must have gone out to pick up some
welded rail because after it passed at 3 p.m. there were no more trains
at least until 6 p.m. when I left. I got some rain and artistic shots
of the station area, however. It was 67 degrees, but tomorrow, Sunday,
it should be sunny and 82.
LOTS OF TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, JUNE
2, 2013
- It was a SUNNY day at Little Rock, Sunday June 2, 2013 and there were
lots of trains. Of special interest today was a mixed freight headed by
a CN unit and Illinois Central 1010, an oil train headed by two nice
Canadian Pacific red units, and a Texas Mexican green boxcar. Counting
UP 9171, a former SP locomotive and UP 2003, former Cotton Belt, I
counted TEN different roadnames today on locomotives: UP, CSX, CN, IC,
GMTX, HLCX, CP and NS. The only roadname I didn't see today was BNSF,
which I see almost every time I'm at the station.
Included today (all taken by my new Nikon D5200 digital camera):
1)
UP 4056, 4800, 7734, 8691, 4480, 6779, 7291, 7210, 7704, 4340, 8338,
7502, 6918, 5928, 7286, 5057, 4167, 9666, 4300, 4369, 8044, 3954
2) CSX 117, 796
3) UP 9171-former SP
4) UP 2003-former Cotton Belt
5) CN 2247
6) IC 1010
7) GMTX 2116
8) HLCX 3810, 1035
9) CP 9817, 8563
10) NS 8118
11) HS 39867 New Orleans Public Belt RR boxcar
12) TR5756 blue gondola
13) IATR 1620 green boxcar
14) DRGW 15543 and 16516 orange Rio Grande hoppers
15) RCJM 4402 R J Corman red boxcar
16) NS 113413, type of car unknown
17) HOKX 286182 grey tankcar
18) PAL 701408 Texas Mexican green boxcar
19) TOFX 887070 express car
20) PMRX 84040 hopper built 12-89
21) SOU 62376 coil-loaded flatcar
22) Car without ID
23) SPMW 7282 hopper
24) QTTX 130707 heavy duty hauler
25) EAMX 7012 Santa Fe hopper with the SF trademark, built in 5-71, 42
year old, in perfect shape, no graffiti
26) SRN 5929 boxcar
27) MP 641450 Missouri Pacific gondola with the red MoPac buzzsaw emblem
28) FSR 47041 gondola
29) TILX 224000 rusted blue tankcar
30) PX 82373 flatcar with a load of pipes
31) CELX 22012 blue tankcar
32) Small and large Procor tankcars together, sorta like a boy and his
day...lol
33) AEX 10519 'Food Service Only' hopper
34) HPJX 147543 gondola
35) Sunset
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE LITTLE ROCK
JUNE 4, 2013
- Amtrak Texas Eagle northbound No. 22 at Little Rock, Arkansas at
midnight, Tuesday night June 4, 2013. Another good crowd of passengers.
I also got a BNSF through train passing Union Station.
INDIANA RR LOCO INRD 9013 LITTLE
ROCK JUNE 6, 2013
- Indiana Railroad locomotive INRD 9013 headed a northbound empty oil
train past Union Station in Little Rock Thursday, June 6, 2013 at 4:07
p.m. Here's a couple of shots plus two more trains today. The second
unit on the oil train was red Canadian National CO 8793. The red colors
were almost a perfect match. Also saw an old rusty SOO white boxcar.
TRAINS LITTLE ROCK SATURDAY, JUNE
8, 2013
- Here's a few pictures at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas
Saturday, June 8, 2013, including a BNSF oil train, a dog on the
tracks, and the KCS 125th anniversary autorack. Tomorrow, June 9, there
will be another NS heritage unit passing here on an oil train, NS 8101
Central of Georgia. I believe this is the 4th time the Central of
Georgia unit has been by here.
Included:
1) UP 8533, 8662, 5023, 5115, 8393, 4660, 4904, 4899, 4875, 4934, 5084,
7365
2) CSX 5303, 5276, 7572
3) NS 2648, 9039
4) BNSF 7452, 9898, 6289
5) CP 603771 hopper
6) SOO 18682 boxcar
7) WRWK 300167 KCS 125th Anniversary autorack. I almost missed it
8) Dog on track
9) TILX 12310 hopper, built 3-98
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS INCLUDING NS
8101 HERITAGE JUNE 9, 2013
- Little Rock trains Sunday June 9, 2013. The day started out sunny,
but clouded up by noon. There was a good amount of trains today, and we
caught a couple of trains passing each other on UP Main and Main 2 in
front of Union Station. NS 8101, the Central of Georgia heritage unit,
was on an oil train, the 4th time it's been in this area.
Plus my
usual fallen-flag freight cars, an antique purple automobile, and my
finally-blooming crape myrtle tree.
Included:
1) UP 7607, 7780, 5201, 1750, 7379, 8354, 7319, 8344, 8784, 4058, 5304
2) CSX 7572
3) GMTX 2112
4) UP-former SP 2047
5) BNSF 5315
6) NS 9746, 8101
7) CN 5699
8) CP 220264 red boxcar
9) SP 323000 Southern Pacific gondola
10) Purple classic automobile
11) Crape myrtles
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS JUNE 15, 16,
2013
- Just a few trains this weekend, June 15 and 16, 2013, at Little Rock.
UP's main line between Malvern and Gurdon, south of Little Rock, was
curfewed most of the day to lay new ties, which prevented the usual
parade of northbounds from reaching Union Station. I did
manage
to get a couple of trains though, mostly southbounds to Pine Bluff, and
lots of birds on Sunday afternoon. There's also a shot of a brand new
small tank car, CAOX 300222, built in June 2013.
Included:
1) UP 4725, 4244, 1661, 1772, 1780, 7858, 8397, 4521, 5648
2) UP 6242 former SP
3) CSXT 180829 hycube boxcar
4) MKT 16084 red Katy gondola
5) CAOX 300222 new tank car built June 2013
6) SRN 6563 former Corinth & Counce Railroad Company boxcar
7) Birds
UP 1989 RIO GRANDE HERITAGE
LITTLE ROCK, JUNE 18, 2013
- Union Pacific Heritage locomotive 1989, the Rio Grande unit, Little
Rock's Union Station, Tuesday June 18, 2013 at 4:45 a.m.. The train was
stopped in front of the station because the liftspan was up to allow
barge traffic to pass under the Baring Cross Bridge over the Arkansas
River.
NS 8105 INTERSTATE HERITAGE
LITTLE ROCK JUINE 20, 2013
- On Thursday, June 20, 2013, NS 8105, the Interstate heritage
locomotive, lead a southbound oil train past Union Station in Little
Rock, Arkansas at 7:23 a.m. The train was headed to St James,
Louisiana. Here are some photos.
NIGHT TRAINS LITTLE ROCK JUNE 20,
2013
- Some late-night trains at Union Station in Little Rock, early
Thursday morning, June 20, 2013, from 3:13 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. There were
14 trains during this 4 hour period with 9 different
roadnames on
locomotives . This includes Amtrak's Texas Eagle No. 21 and NS 8105
Interstate heritage locomotive, plus a hot air balloon.
Included this night:
1) UP 9220, 5183, 3831, 4949, 4755, 8791, 6900, 6761, 4650, 4580,
4522, 5140, 4269, 4259, 8550, 8556
2) NS 9199, 8105, 8058, 8033
3) IC 1025
4) Amtrak locomotive 64
5) GMTX 2615
6) HLCX 3887
7) LLPX 2272
8) CSX 5368
9) BNSF 4041, 4852
10) A hot air balloon
11) Amtrak's Texas Eagle
JUST A HANDFUL OF TRAINS LITTLE
ROCK JUNE 23, 2013
- Not many trains today, Sunday June 23, 2013, due to track work near
Benton, Arkansas southwest of Little Rock, but I did manage to get a
couple.
Included today:
1) UP 4275, 8624, 8808, 4209, 9683
2) BNSF 9949, 9242, 4456
3) Loads of rocks
4) SSW 24176 and SSW 24260 Golden West Service blue boxcars, each
different in size.
5) UP 255265 yellow UP boxcar with the UP trademark
NS 8105 INTERSTATE HERITAGE,
OTHER TRAINS LITTLE ROCK JUNE 25, 2013
- Several trains today, Tuesday June 25, 2013 at Little Rock, including
a northbound oil train with NS 8105 Interstate heritage as dpu. Also
today, Little Rock & Western and BCRAIL 4643. Plus one train
from
June 24.
Included:
1) BNSF 9294, 6015
2) UP 6023, 6219-ex SP, 5899, 6027, 6784, 6404-ex SP, 6665, 8566, 5069,
5023, 4359, 6519, 8808 (very clean), 3998
3) LRWN 1541, 2017
4) NS 8033, 8105, 8381
5) KCS 3932
6) GMTX 2137
7) BCRAIL 4643 red, white, blue
8) HS 30926 Columbus & Greenville boxcar
9) Bird on the fence
10) MKT 16021 red gondola, built 1-70
NS 8100 NICKEL PLATE ROAD
HERITAGE LOCOMOTIVE LITTLE ROCK JUNE 30, 2013
- S 8100, the Nickel Plate heritage locomotive, passed Union Station in
Little Rock, Arkansas on Sunday, June 30, 2013 at 7 p.m., the leader of
another oil train heading for St James, Louisiana. Although the sun was
shining as I took these photos about 7 p.m., we had a brief rain shower
a half hour before. This was the fifth NS heritage locomotive to visit
us at Union Station, all on oil trains: 1) NS 8114-Original Norfolk
Southern August 3, 2012 * 2) NS 1071 Central of New Jersey April 6,
2013 * 3) NS 8101 Central of Georgia May 27, 2013 * 4) NS 8025
Monongahelia May 31, 2013 * and 5) NS 8100 Nickel Plate Road today June
30, 2013. I put small images of each one at the end of this web page.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS SUNDAY JUNE
30, 2013
- I saw 19 trains on Sunday, June 30, 2013 at the station in Little
Rock, Arkansas. Here are a few I picked out for this webpage, including
NS 8100, the Nickel Plate Road heritage and a worm or caterpillar.
Included:
1) UP 7125, 6785, 6652, 6284, 8448, 8324, 5640, 4458, 723,
2003-SSW,4866-"Onion Pacific"
2) WAMX 4030-CN
3) CEFX 6537-CiT blue
4) BNSF 4793, 6837, 9831
5) CN 5435
6) GMTX 2676
7) NS 8100
8) Long poles load
9) BCOL 100330 BCRAIL greet boxcar
10) SSW 65070 Golden West blue hycube boxcar
11) CSXT 180655 Chessie System hycube box with Chessie the Cat
12) Dark clouds
13) ADN 93131 Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar
14) Worm or caterpillar
NS 8100 RETURNS TO LITTLE ROCK,
JULY 4, 2013
- NS 8100, the Nickel Plate Heritage unit, made a return appearance to
Little Rock as the third unit on a northbound oil train, Thursday July
4, 2013. The train had to stop for a red signal in front of the station
so I got some closeup shots.
UP 1983 Western Pacific heritage
Little Rock July 9, 2013
- UP 1983, the Western Pacific heritage locomotive, passed Union
Station in Little Rock, AR at 8:21 p.m. Tuesday, July 9, 2013 on the
IHODU-9, originating in Houston, Texas, ending in Dupo, Illinois.
Thanks to the UP people who gave me the heads up.
TRAINS,
BIRD, SUNSET, MOON LITTLE ROCK JULY 21, 2013
- Here's a few train pictures on Sunday, July 21, 2013. I've
also
included a photo of a vivid sunset over the Arkansas River and a Moon
shot.
Included:
1) UP 5909, 6625, 4119, 4850, 4337, 7785, 1781, 1787
2) GMTX 2116
3) UP 2003, ex SSW
4) Ferromex 4618
5) Klemme Coop Grain hopper 182981
6) American Airlines overflying jet
7) Bird on the Amtrak siding fence
8) Sunset over the Arkansas River taken from the Big Dam pedestrian
bridge over the river.
9) Moon in a blue sky
Click this link to view the photos:
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS JULY 28, 2013
- A nice, almost Fall-like breeze was blowing in Arkansas on this day,
Sunday July 28, 2013, and a good-sized group of railfans were at Union
Station to view trains. It was in the 60s early in the day and 70s most
of the morning. There were several trains of all varieties. I've also
included the obituary of long-time UP photographer and railfan John C.
Jones, who died July 26.
Included:
1) UP 5321, 8341, 7292, 4385, 4732, 7684, 3999, 4729, 8359
2) CSX 8770, 7546
3) BNSF 5791, 9452, 9275
4) CN 2419 'zebra stripes'
5) TILX 111088 new white tank car
6) Railfans in shade
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS ON HOT, HUMID
DAY WITH A SPIDER - Some trains passing Union
Station on a hot Saturday, August 3, 2013, including two BNSF empty oil
trains.
Included:
1) BNSF 4542, 7395, 6581, 8825, 9494
2) NS 8120
3) UP 8646, 5796, 4385, 7665, 7799, 3803
4) Spider at the station.
LITTLE ROCK AND NORTH PLATTE,
NEBRASKA TRAINS AUGUST 18, 2013
- After a little over a week of vacation to Yellowstone, I'm resuming
my train photos today, Sunday August 18, 2013, at Little Rock,
Arkansas. I've included one train at North Platte, Nebraska on August 8.
Included:
1) UP 5586, 5660 (in North Platte, Nebraska), UP 5910, 7210, 5793,
6783, 7332, 7022, 8654, 8814, 9775
2) Unknown number Amtrak locomotive in North Little Rock
3) UP 6419 and 6332, both former SP units
4) NS 9148, 9622
5) KCS 4107, 4122 Belles
6) Railfans (we had 9 today)
7) SP 323119 gondola
8) KCS 161070 blue boxcar
FIVE ROADNAMES, 27 LOCOMOTIVES
INCLUDING UP 1982, TWO WARBONNETS TOGETHER AUGUST 25, 2013
- It was a good day at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas today,
Sunday, August 25, 2013. There was a variety of locomotive roadnames,
including two BNSF Warbonnet locomotives heading an autotrain, and UP
1982 the MoPac Heritage. Plus a few trains on Saturday, August 24.
Included:
1)
UP 1791, 1728, 683, 4321, 7352, 7224, 1982, 8406, 6713-CNW Op
Lifesaver, 4788, 5757, 638-SP, 5878, 2003-SSW, 2047-SP, 8683, 9691,
4218.
2) BNSF 9256, 735 Warbonnet, 4595, 4714-Warbonnet, 4704-Warbonnet
3) CN 5410, 2195
4) CSX 76
5) GMTX 2112
6) Lumber loads
7) 3 Golden West boxcars in row
8) SPMW 6341 Scale Monitor Car
9) ATGX 76270 XTRA hopper
10) MBKX 130099 hopper
11) MKT 558 green hopper
12) KCSM 8238 125th anniversary new autorack
13) BNSF 314111 autorack
14) CSX 600000 autorack
TRAINS AND AMTRAK LITTLE ROCK
SEPTEMBER 1, 2013
- Here's a few trains passing Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas on
Sunday, September 1, 2013 (my 'rolling roster locomotive photos' and
old freight cars). I also have shots of Amtrak's Texas Eagle #22
arriving at midnight Saturday night. By our estimate, there's
usually 48 to 54 trains passing here each day. I also saw MRMX 130019,
a green hopper. Isn't this one of those green MKT hoppers?
Included today:
1) Amtrak locomotive 205
2) UP 5701, 7118, 6018, 4913, 5490, 4602, 5735, 8004, 9675, 9810
3) CSX 8134
4) MRMX 130019 green shot hopper, former MKT?
5) MWCX 500413 cargo hauler
6) WMCX 101245 and 101243 former BN green woodchip cars
7) CSXT 180781 Chessie System hycube with the sleeping Chessie faded
8) TTX yellow autoracks
9) Berries
LABOR DAY TRAINS AND CLOUDS
LITTLE ROCK SEPTEMBER 2, 2013 - Labor Day trains
at Little Rock, Arkansas September 2, 2013. I
included a nice sunset over the rails and some cloud formations.
Included:
1) UP 9822, 4472, 5109, 4958, 7815, 5793, 8446, 6332-SP, 6783, 7194,
5156, 9715, 9691, 9798-CNW, 3826, 5930, 4915
2) NS 6605, 8915
3) BNSF 5974, 4194, 7632, 1102, 4768
4) White-capped oil tank cars
5) Dark, interesting clouds plus nice sunset
6) CSXT 491046 white gondola
7) WSOR 503213 Wisconsin & Southern boxcar
8) Amusement train carrying people around the Promenade Mall in west
Little Rock - ATTN Skip Waters
9) TILX 263504 green tank car
10) Pigeon napping on a wire
HOT DAY AND TRAINS LITTLE ROCK
SEPTEMBER 7, 2013
- A hot day in Little Rock with a 'high heat' banner out at Union
Pacific's North Little Rock yard. It was 98 degrees, heat index 105.
Yuk. Here's a few trains running past Union Station, including a BNSF
empty oil train headed by a BNSF 'executive' locomotive.
Included today:
1) UP 4505, 4042, 8747, 2003 (SSW), 2047 (SP), 3819, 4810, 4313, 5638
2) BNSF 9674, 9747 both Executive colors
3) GMTX 2112
4) CNW 438164 yellow hopper
5) MKT 561 green hopper
6) TOMX 1 gondola
7) CNW 791036 MW gondola
8) MP 55166 gondola/rock hauler
9) ETRX 850693 single loaded coal car
10) Union Station balcony swaying lights
11) High Heat banner at UP North Little Rock yard entrance
SANTA FE WARBONNET-OTHER TRAINS
LITTLE ROCK SEPTEMBER 8, 2013
- A good variety of of locomotive roadnames at Little Rock's Union
Station on Sunday, September 8, 2013. Roadnames included were UP, CSX,
CP, CN, BNSF, TFM. Of special interest was a Santa Fe warbonnet, BNSF
674, heading the QDYMEJ Dayton, Texas to Memphis, Tennessee BNSF
trackage rights train. I caught 13 trains and identified 31
locomotives. It was another hot and dry day, reaching 100 degrees by
mid afternoon.
AMTRAK AND NIGHT TRAINS LITTLE
ROCK, SEPTEMBER 11, 2013
- Here's a few freight trains and both of Amtrak's Texas Eagles over
the midnight hour at Little Rock's Union Station on Tuesday
night/Wednesday morning September 11, 2013. There were 10 freights plus
the two Eagles in a 3-hour, 8 minute window, or 4 trains per hour. I
used a high ISO sensitivity setting (10,800) so I could also use a
higher shutter speed (1/320th second) to prevent most blurring as the
trains moved past me. Of course, with the higher sensitivity settings,
you'll see some digital noise, but at least you can read the numbers. I
used a Sony A77 for these night shots instead of my usual Nikon D5200
that I use in the daytime.
COLUMBUS, TEXAS TRAINS AND TOWN,
SEPTEMBER 15, 2013
- I caught 3 trains on UP's Sunset Route through Columbus, Texas on
Sunday, September 15, 2013. I added a few scenes of the city of
Columbus and it's large oak trees and a photo of a marker describing
the Columbus Tap Railway in the 1800s.
Included:
1) UP 7294, 5344, 6679, 7728, 3863, 5172, 4100
2) CSX 7597
3) Military equipment train
4) ATW 114121 boxcar
5) Columbus Tap Railway marker
6) Numerous railroad street crossings in Columbus
7) Civil War era courthouse in Columbus
TRAIN, STREETCAR, BIRDS AND RAIN
LITTLE ROCK SEPTEMBER 20, 2013
- After a few weeks of dry, hot weather, rain finally returned to
Arkansas on Friday, September 20, 2013 and as those who follow my posts
know, I like getting train pictures in the rain. So, I ventured out in
flooded streets to photo trains at Union Station. Unfortunately, there
was only one train while I was there, but I did get a streetcar too and
a night shot of downtown Little Rock using my smartphone after the rain
had ended Friday evening.
DAWN AMTRAK EAGLE, OTHER TRAINS
LITTLE ROCK SEPTEMBER 22, 2013
- Late night and morning trains Little Rock, Sunday September 22, 2013,
the first day of Fall. Included is a 4-hour late Amtrak Texas Eagle No.
21.
Included:
1) UP 7030, 5986, 6550, 6402, 3809, UP-SP 6150, UP 5385, 4831, 4526,
1793, 1798, 1686, 8001, 4482, 7435, 4634, 4411
2) CSX 7748, 94
3) BNSF 4042, 5144
4) Amtrak 68 on Eagle No. 21
5) Union Station just after dawn
6) Moon in blue sky
7) GATX 214238 new tank cars built 9/13
8) HDTX 5004 unmarked white reefer
UP HERITAGE 1988 AND 1989 NORTH
LITTLE ROCK, SEPTEMBER 26, 2013
- Union Pacific heritage locomotives UP 1989 and 1988 led the manifest
train MNPNL-24 into North Little Rock on Thursday, September 26,
2013.This was the North Platte, Nebraska to North Little Rock
train.
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE LITTLE ROCK
WITH DOTX 221 ON REAR, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
- Amtrak's northbound Texas Eagle, # 22, had a good crowd
boarding on Friday night, September 27, 2013 at Little Rock's Union
Station. There was a Department of Transportation railcar on the end of
the train, DOTX 221. Plus two Little Rock police cars were in the west
parking lot with officers talking to 'people of interest' while the
train was at the station. One passenger had a dog with him, probably a
seeing eye dog. I hadn't planned on being at the station, so these
photos were taken by my Droid Razrr smartphone, which does a decent job
outdoors at night, but sometimes has a soft focus.
I
got to the station at 9:45 p.m. and waited for the train to arrive.
While in my car, 7 freights passed the station, all northbound, between
9:45 and 11:49 p.m.:
1) Two BNSF engines on an autorack train, 9:45 p.m.
2) Two CSX engines on a stack train
3) Two UP engines on another autorack train
4) Two BNSF engines on the BNSF local
5) Three BNSF engines on a mixed freight, 11:10 p.m.
6) One Ferromex and one UP engine on a mixed freight, 11:30 p.m.
7) Two UP engines on a chemical train, 11:41 p.m.
8) Texas Eagle, 11:49 p.m.
LOTS OF TRAINS AND RAIN LITTLE
ROCK SEPTEMBER 29, 2013 - There were lots of
trains today passing Union Station in Little Rock with periods of rain.
Included:
1) BNSF 4488, 4776, 4712-Warbonnet, 5086, 4899, 9621, 4304
2) UP 5928, 6323, 5841, 5200, 7481, 3924, 8691, 4198, 6629, 6540, 6605,
7437, 1793, 1798, 7702, 5595, 3933, 7444
3) NS 9056
4) SSPX 31041 Tate Lyle Bayer hopper
5) ATR 1617 green boxcar
6) AM 562, 570, 511 Arkansas & Missouri boxcars
7) RJCM R J Corman boxcar
8) FSR 47056 gondola
9) AGR 8216 blue boxcar
10) CSXT 141792 blue boxcar
11) CP 220453 red Canada hopper
12) Downpour
13) CNW 435006 hopper
14) SPMW 6340 green tankcar
15) CSX coil cars
16) MAKROLON Bayer hopper
17) HS 7236 MTW boxcar
18) HS 72201 yellow boxcar
19) SGLR 4573 light blue boxcar
20) CIRR 94031 long green boxcar
21) CP 606583, 607793 Canada red hoppers
22) MRMX green hopper
23) GTR 100135 blue boxcar
SANTA FE 606, UP 4141 OTHER
TRAINS LITTLE ROCK OCTOBER 3, 2013
- I thought I was going to Union Station in Little Rock on Thursday,
October 3, 2013 for a brief time but ended up seeing lots of
interesting trains, including BNSF-Santa Fe 606 in Warbonnet colors
without the BNSF name on it and UP 4141, the George Bush special
locomotive, which had the tarp taken off so it could be displayed at
Union Pacific's Family Days event at Jenks Shops in North Little Rock
on October 5. Plus several more trains, including one of the
125th anniversary autoracks of the KCS. The upcoming Family Days will
also have UP heritage locomotives 1989-Rio Grande and 1988-Katy pulling
an employee special all day Saturday October 5.
UP 4141, 1989, 1988 DISPLAYED
JENKS SHOPS NORTH LITTLE ROCK OCTOBER 4, 2013
-Union Pacific is having their annual Family Days in North Little Rock
Saturday, October 5, 2013. For the occasion, they have UP 4141-George
Bush, 1989-Rio Grande, and 1988-Katy heritage/special locomotives on
display in front of UP Jenks Shops. Here's a photo I took today,
October 4, of these locomotives. Since they're on display, I doubt
they'll be running the employee specials on Saturday. Just for your
information, UP 2010-Boy Scout unit and UP 2001-Olympic unit, will also
be passing through North Little Rock tonight or Saturday, but will not
be a part of Family Days. (Thanks for the heads up from a UP person)
UP FAMILY DAYS PHOTOS AND OTHER
TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, OCTOBER 5, 2013
- Union Pacific Family Days at North Little Rock, October 5, 2013. It
was held at UP's Jenks Shops and was for employees with badge only. A
special
train was run for employees and family members, plus I got some other
trains as well, including one with lots of interesting old and new
freight cars, including SOO 75667 Soo Line hopper, SP 355192 woodchip
car, SP 495532 blue hopper with faded markings GVSP, UP 147351 old
Union Pacific hopper or woodchip car, UP 910901 WPM Plasser American
car, and a white HDTX 5013 long boxcar . Rainy part of the day, sunny
other parts. I've also included a couple of links to Youtube videos I
made during the day. Here are my photos.
BLUE SKIES AND TRAINS INCLUDING
UP 2010 OCTOBER 6, 2013
- Sunday trains at the station in Little Rock. Also got UP
Heritage locomotives 1988 and 1989 again, plus UP 2010, the Boy Scout
unit and the George Bush unit 4141. It was a nice, cool,
sunny
day.
Included:
1) UP8024, 8777, 4302-"Onion Pacific", 8313, 7513,
4077, 1929, 2010-Boy Scout, 6938-Centennial on display, 1988-Katy,
4141-Bush, 1989-Rio Grande
2) GMTX 2116
3) CNW 741013 green gondola
4) MKT 599 green hopper
NIGHT TRAINS AND AMTRAK LITTLE
ROCK, OCTOBER 11, 2013
- Amtrak's Texas Eagle No. 22 at Little Rock's Union Station on Friday
night, October 11, 2013. I've also included a night shot of two blue
freight locomotives, ECRX 3007 and 3008 Trans-Global Solutions, Inc.
RAINY, NIGHT TRAINS INCLUDING
AMTRAK, OCTOBER 16, 2013
- Night trains in rain, including Amtrak's Texas Eagles at Little Rock,
October 16, 2013. Including freight locomotives BNSF 965, BNSF 735
warbonnet, UP 5150, UP 3814, Another BNSF warbonnet, UP 7419, UP 568,
UP 8572, UP 4835, UP 5730, UP 7100. For those of you who were sleeping
in the wee hours of the morning between 1 and 4 am, see what you
missed? LOL
FIFTEEN TRAINS IN 4 HOURS AT
LITTLE ROCK, OCTOBER 17, 2013
- Brought my lawn chair and went 'train fishing' this afternoon and
evening, Thursday October 17, 2017, at Little Rock's Union Station.
Caught 15 of those train-fish between 3:01 and 7:21 p.m. with
locomotives from UP, CSX, NS, GMTX, BNSF, and LRWN.
Included:
1)
UP 9664, 5037, 2401, 6493, 5725, 6811, 1784, 1770, 1793, 8431, 7920,
3866, 4747, 4119, 4053, 8413, 7407, 8393, 4038, 4510, 4725, 5329, 3991,
4615, 7487
2) NS 7513, 7703
3) BNSF 7382
4) CSX 547, 4570, 259, 7671
5) GMTX 2110
6) LRWN 2017, 500
7) GROX 60722 Union Equity hopper
8) Trespasser on tracks
9) CSXT 180663 hycube boxcar
10) CNA 795157 Canadian National hycube
11) MP 706543 hopper with MoPac buzzsaw
12) UP 355148 yellow boxcar
13) Sunset and Moon
TRAINS, STREETCARS, BEES AND
FLOWERS LITTLE ROCK OCTOBER 20, 2013
- A beautiful, clear, cool day at Little Rock, Arkansas on Sunday,
October 20, 2013 and I had plenty of trains to photograph. Included is
switcher R8SX 1205 (probably should be RSSX 1205) and my usual
assortment of locomotives and freight cars, including two Port St Joe
Route, Apalachicola Northern boxcars, ATW 567008 and 557070. I got a
streetcar shot in North Little Rock as well. I caught 12 trains at
Union Station with locomotives from UP, CSX, BNSF, NS, GMTX, and RSSX
and I also got some colorful berry shots and a closeup of a bee. It
started out in the mid 40s but ended up in the lower 60s.
FOUR PASSING TRAINS, INCLUIDNG A
1955 UP TANK CAR, LITTLE ROCK, OCTOBER 23, 2013
- Nice, sunny day with several trains (4) passing each other at Union
Station in Little Rock, Wednesday October 23, 2013. Included today was
a Union Pacific tank car built in January 1955 in a mixed freight, plus
two other old UP tank cars. And a new GATX black tank car built this
month, October 2013, plus a Grand Trunk Western 4-door hycube.
Included:
1) UP 4120, 6632, 484, 8602, 4981, 7821, 7410, 6746, 1551, 1787, UPY 583
2) BNSF 4970, 4110, 4792
3) CN 8810
4) GATX 2122 tank car blt 9-13
5) Boxcar 530105 with "Home Shop For Repairs-Do not load"
6) GTW 305844 4-door hycube
7) GTW 305897 2-door hycube
8) TTPX 81331 steel rods
9) IC 97427 CN gondola
10) UP 78110 old tank car blt 1-55
11) UP 809944 green tank car blt 9-85
12) UP 90995 green tank car
13) CNW 174829 yellow hopper blt 1-66
14) SP 228706 Golden West Service boxcar blt-1972
15) GATX 214928 new tank car blt 10-13
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS INCLUDING 2
BNSF OIL TRAINS AND A TROPICANA REEFER OCTOBER 24, 2013
- Another mostly sunny and nice day at the station in Little Rock
today, Thursday October 24, 2013. I guess the highlight was getting two
BNSF empty oil trains and a Tropicana reefer.
Included:
1) UP 7249, 4829, 1784, 1725, 1806, 7434, 5056, 7359, 4235, 8521, 4471,
UPY 583, 3910, 3870, 6818, 4609, 4974
2) BNSF 4017, 5974, 7228, 6860, 939, 5001
3) CN 5780
4) New CSXT coil cars
5) CP 85600 CP Rail green boxcar
6) TPIX 2860 Tropicana Reefer
7) CNW 175565 hopper
8) MKT 589 hopper, I think one of the original green ones that was
repainted
UP 2010 BOY SCOUT UNIT PLUS RARE
ROCK ISLAND BOXCAR PLUS OTHERS LITTLE ROCK OCTOBER 26, 2013
- A good selection of trains and locomotives today, Saturday October
26, 2013, at Union Station in Little Rock, including UP 2010, the Boy
Scout special unit, and BCRAIL 4622 and CN 5701 together. There was
another good shot of passing northbounds on UP Main 1 and 2 as the dark
clouds moved in. And I saw hopper GACX 8175, the ConAgra hopper
with
these words: "4 in 1 children in America struggles with hunger - Join
us and donate at FeedingAmerica.org." Plus a rare former Rock Island
blue boxcar, HS 75311.
Included:
1) UP 8446, 3916, 7787, 4625, 3835, 1787, 1778, 1686, 2010, 4063,
5097, 7718, 3915, 4514, 3913, 5098
2) BCRail (CN) 4622
3) CN 5701
4) NS 8436
5) HLCX 1044
6) PROX 43069 tank car, blt 12-98
7) ACFX 72723 blue tank car
8) QTTX 131307 8-axle heavy hauler
9) CPDX 213033 new tank car
10) DRGW 3024 gondola
11) CSXT 136589 boxcar
12) Southern 532294 boxcar
13) CNW 89045 green gondola
14) CNW 438124 yellow hopper
15) DME 5746 boxcar
16) Pigeon on track
17) CNW 180253 hopper
18) MRMX 130012 green hopper
19) HS 75311 Rock Island blue boxcar
20) Darkening skies
21) Passing northbound trains at 3:01 p.m.
22) CSXT 180615 Chessie-Cat hycube
23) GACX 8175 hopper with the 'struggles with hunger' wording
EARLY TEXAS EAGLE LITTLE ROCK
OCTOBER 29, 2013
- The northbound Texas Eagle Number 22 arrived early at 11:07 p.m. and
left on time at 11:39 p.m. from Little Rock's Union Station on Tuesday
night, October 29, 2013. The Eagle was scheduled to arrive at 11:31
p.m. Here's photos of each Superliner passenger car in the consist plus
some daytime shots of the station. The consist was: Amtrak locomotive
69, Superliners 39008, 32117, 37004, 33002, 31027, 34097 and 34133.
There's a movie link of the train leaving at 11:39 p.m. at the end of
the webpage.
COLORFUL TRAINS AND FALL COLORS
LITTLE ROCK OCTOBER 30, 2013
- The trees were just beginning to change to Fall colors as I captured
these trains at Little Rock's Union Station on Wednesday, October 30,
2013. There was one train that had its own color variety with a red
unit from Canadian Pacific, an orange BNSF locomotive and an Armour
Yellow UP engine on the same train, all passing a yellow tree. Plus
there were five green CNW hoppers with original numbers on one train,
not hooked together but on the same train. As I'm putting this web page
together at 11 p.m. October 30, UP 1995, the CNW Heritage locomotive,
was heading to North Little Rock. Wouldn't it be nice if this
locomotive could some day pull these five CNW hoppers?
Included today:
1) UP 8029, 8612, 6819, 7209, 7956, 7985, 7395, 314, 1065, 2294,
2291(LLPX)
2) BNSF 4164, 4930, 7795, 9276
3) CP 8802
4) HLCX 1088
5) MP 7181 hopper with the MoPac buzzsaw emblem
6) Colorful Fall colors at the station
7) Pipe loads
8) MKT 4384 grey hopper
9) CNW green hoppers with original numbers: 178560, 178377, 178199,
178174, 178339
10) CNW yellow hopper 174785
11) CMO 265233 UP hopper
12) ITLX 41301 Milwaukee Road hopper
COLD, DARK, BLUSTERY DAY AT
LITTLE ROCK AND TRAINS NOVEMBER 6, 2013
- A dark, blustery, drizzly, cold day at Little Rock, Wednesday
November 6, 2013, but trains kept running and I had to see a couple at
the station. I also went by Jenks Shops and got a photo of UP 4141,
still parked in front of the shops. The tarp hasn't been put back on it
since UP's Family Days a few weeks ago. I also included a photo of the
famous Old Mill in North Little Rock with lots of Autumn colors. This
mill was in the opening scenes of the 1939 movie Gone With The Wind and
has 100,000 visitors a year.
RENOVATED -M&NA RY DEPOT
AT ST JOE, ARKANSAS NOVEMBER 2, 2013
- On Saturday, November 2, 2013, I checked out the renovated St Joe,
Arkansas, Missouri & North Arkansas Railroad depot.
Here are
some photos. The M& NA was abandoned and taken up in this area
in
the 1940s. But this depot has stood the test of time and remains today.
I'll put the information about the depot that was posted on the door
first, then the pictures I took.
FRISCO BRIDGE FAYETTEVILLE-TRAINS
LITTLE ROCK NOVEMBER 9, 10, 2013
- Didn't have much time today for trains in Little Rock, since I had
just returned from Fayetteville, Arkansas, but I did manage to get a
few trains anyway, including a East Camden and Highland boxcar. I also
got a couple of pictures of the tracks of the former Frisco (now
Arkansas & Missouri RR) in Fayetteville lined with colorful
Fall
foliage. I took those photos from the old 1936 bridge over the tracks
on West Maple Street and I included a shot of the original marker for
the bridge. The University of Arkansas is located in this area.
Included today:
1) UP 4364, 4623, 9834, 9645, 9575, 7604, 9588, 7352, 4993
2) CSX 796
3) Arkansas & Missouri track from Maple Street Fayetteville,
Arkansas
4) Frisco Bridge over A&M track historical marker
5) University of Arkansas Carnall Hall hog statue
6) HS 7625 East Camden & Highland boxcar
7) EAMX 7003 Santa Fe hopper
8) NKCR boxcar
9) CAIX hopper
10) TBOX 663571 clean boxcar
11) ATGX 521 hopper
12) BNSF 517903 gondola
13) LT 8195 gondola
14) WRRC 137 and 578 gondolas
15) RTMX 3198 tankcar
16) PTTX 140534 load of rusty pipes
17) CNA 412493 CN boxcar
18) CELX 23004 blue tankcar
19) NAHX 570154 hopper with 4 large chutes
LRWN SWITCHING AT PULASKI-RAIL
TRAIN-LITTLE ROCK NOVEMBER 12, 2013
- On Tuesday, November 12, 2013, I caught a rare (for me at least)
daytime westbound move by the Little Rock & Western past Union
Station in Little Rock, then I drove to the Pulaski (former Rock
Island) siding in west Little Rock and caught it switching cars. Also
got a unit continuous rail train, which went past the station toward
the east, then backed past the station again on the same track going
west. Plus a couple of other trains and some old fallen-flag freight
cars on the LRWN train., including LRWN 195030 (a
Deyr???&Mack???
boxcar - couldn't make out all the letters), and ATW 75030, a
Laurinburg And Southern boxcar, blt 2-75.
TRAINS AND STREETCARS LITTLE ROCK
NOVEMBER 16 AND 17, 2013
- Several trains at Little Rock on both Saturday and Sunday, November
16 and 17, 2013, including a never-before-seen-by-me yellow tankcar
UTLX 202933 Fluid Recycling Service car. It was 84 degrees, record high
for the date.
Included:
1) UP 6063, 5806, 6043, 7112, 5012, 7122, 8790, 7782,4037, 8075, 5080,
8058, 4178, 3953, 8044, 4430, 3981, 4201, 8712, 7650, 7643
2) KCS 4107 Belle colors
3) NS 8931
4) HLCX 4222
5) CSX 579, 7729
6) Streetcars decorated for Christmas and taking passengers to Holiday
House craft show
7) Bikers walking across UP tracks
8) NS 68740 coil car
9) CRYX 5532 Cryo Trans car "War Eagle"
10) CNW 178196 hopper
11) MWCX 462594 Rock Island blue hopper
12) CNW 175510 hopper
13) WSOR 503224 Wisconsin & Southern boxcar
14) NYC 218281 Conrail boxcar
15) GAMX 836 Wisconsin Central hopper
16) TILX 263517, 263510 and 263507 green tankcars
17) UTLX 2378 blue tankcar
18) Trucks on flatcar
19) UTLX 202933 Fluid Recycling Service yellow tankcar
ARKANSAS & MISSOURI RR
ALCO'S 60 AND 48 NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR NOVEMBER 20, 2013
- These two Arkansas and Missouri locomotives, Nos. 60 and 48, were in
North Little Rock Wednesday, November 20, 2013. From a friend
on
Trainorders.com: Destination shows Batesville, AR. To be
interchanged at Newport, AR to the NWPRA. Consignee: Futurefuel
Chemical. There were being serviced. Also photographed were
UPY
155 and unpatched SSW 9708. Thanks for the heads up from a UP
friend.
COLD, DRIZZLY TRAINS AND SOME
LIGHTED STREETCARS LITTLE ROCK NOVEMBER 22, 2013
- Several trains on a cold, windy Friday, November 22, 2013 passing
Union Station in Little Rock. I caught a UP train passing the Little
Rock & Western westbound train in opposite directions, and a
BNSF
oil train, among others. It was 47 degrees with drizzle. I also have a
couple of shots of streetcars at night with their Christmas light
decorations.
Included:
1) UP 6578, 4039, 4529, 8347, 8676
2) UP/CNW 6718
3) HLCX red 3827
4) Ferromex 4135 and 4664
5) BNSF 5065, 6762, 6551
6) LRWN 2017
7) CBTX 728360 new tankcar
8) Winn Bay Sand hopper WSOX 805092
9) WP 2063 hopper
10) SSW 62762 boxcar
11) VMSX 28459 new tankcar
12) DRGW 310303 'Mainline Thru the Rockies' Rio Grande gondola
13) HS 6788 New Orleans Public Belt Railroad boxcar
14) Southern 4258 boxcar
15) TOE 3089 boxcar
16) Christmas-lit streetcars
STATION HAWK, TRAINS, BRICKYARD
400 PACE CAR AND FALL COLORS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2013
- Trains and red and orange Fall leaves around the train station in
Little Rock, Arkansas on Saturday November 23, 2013.
Included:
1) UP 3945, 2713, 3998,4034, 7392, 4313, 7924
2) BNSF 5418
3) NS 9358, 2734, 2643
4) CNA 40913 Express car
5) Brickyard 400 Pace Car
6) Union Station hawk
7) CIC 2125 Cedar Rapids & Iowa City Rwy Crandic Route car
8- SRN 55096 green boxcar
9) Fall colors around the train station
SUBFREEZING TEMPS AND TRAINS
LITTLE ROCK NOVEMBER 24, 2013
- Sunday, November 24, 2013. It was a blustery and sub-freezing day at
Union Station in Little Rock, but there were lots of trains to keep me
warm. I saw locomotives from UP, NS, BNSF, KCS, CSX and BCRAIL
including the 5,000th GEVO UP 7964. I also saw DRGW 12470, a loaded
short coal hopper, MEC 31841 Pan AM blue boxcar, and other old freight
cars. I got a closeup of a cold Mockingbird and a shot of what I called
a Lemon Icebox Bush (a green bush in front of the library that had tons
of bright yellow leaves on it that reminded me of a lemon icebox pie).
It was 30 degrees and breezy with wind chill of 25 and snow is likely
tonight and Monday. Hopefully I can get some snow/train pictures Monday.
Included:
1)
UP 9647(former SP), 4390, 4563, 1705, 1998, 5215, 4301, 5219, 4751,
7656, 6644, 8790, 8931, 6836, 4764, 7440, 7638, 4404, 4359, 3893,
7964-5,000th GEVO locomotive, 7983
2) CSX 150, 539, 651, 90
3) NS 9804, 7672, 6542-former UP, 1064
4) KCS 4619
5)BC RAIL 4649 stripes
6) BNSF 5418
7) RTIX 1022 junk hauler
8) CSXT 142885 blue boxcar blt 1-80
9) TTPX 805536 pipes
10) DRGW 12470 loaded coal hopper
11) CBTX 781606 new tankcar blt 11-13
12) MKT 578 hopper repainted green hopper
13) RJCM 40071 R J Corman boxcar
14) AM 570 Arkansas & Missouri boxcar
15) IATR 1612 green boxcar
16) TFM 20029 boxcar
17) HS 7631 East Camden & Highland boxcar
18) MEC 31841 Pan Am blue boxcar
19) Hazy sun over Union Station
20) Lemon Icebox Bush
21) UP 211131 maintenance cars
22) TCIX 30020 blue tankcar
23) CSXT 180596 sleeping Chessie cat hycube boxcar
24) CSXT 180190 hycube
25) Car/truck frames
26) GACX Wisconsin Central hoppers
27) NYC 22331 Conrail boxcar
28) Mockingbird closeup
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE NO. 22 LITTLE
ROCK NOVEMBER 27, 2013
- Amtrak's northbound Texas Eagle No. 22 at Little Rock, Arkansas on a
cold, frosty night, Wednesday night November 27, 2013, the night before
Thanksgiving. It was 22 degrees by the time the train left and there
was a long line of passengers boarding. I also included a photo of a
Little Rock streetcar being put in the trolley barn for the night.
THANKSGIVING TRAINS LITTLE ROCK
NOVEMBER 28, 2013
- A good number of trains this Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2013, at
Little Rock, including the BNSF local parked on the Little Rock
&
Western tracks (former Rock Island) next to the Riverdale Shopping
Center close to Walmart. These shots were taken after my Thanksgiving
feast.
Included:
1) UP 4315, 4616, 3931, 5219, 4301, 7466
2) NS 8942, 7504
3) CSX 9002, 9049, 4567, 513
4) Ferromex 4635, 4664
5) BNSF 2029, 518, 2851, 2012 on LRWN-former Rock Island tracks
6) GTW 127072 Grand Trunk Western hycube boxcar blt 12-73, re-blt 8-89
7) SRCX 2008 Sid Richardson Carbon Co hopper
8) WWUX 9312 Winchester & Western hopper
9) CSXT 136097 faded boxcar
10) SOO 18682 boxcar
11) NOKL 536042 boxcar
12) MP 271827 hycube
13) Southern 42486 faded hycube
14) CSXT 173461 hycube
15) WC 21138 Wisconsin Central boxcar
16) ICG 690117 Illinois Central Gulf hycube, graffiti-free
17) CNA 795157 Canadian National hycube
18) NS 48703 hycube faded
19) Southern 42514 hycube
20) GCCX 80003 blue gondola
21) DRGW 320364 Nationwide Gondola
22) TILX 401680 Dupont tankcar
23) MP 641885 ribbed gondola with the MoPac buzzsaw trademark and a
story to go with it
24) UP 7029 yellow ribbed gondola
NIGHT TO DAY TRAINS LITTLE ROCK
NOVEMBER 30, 2013 - Night to day trains at
Little Rock, including a 3-hour late southbound Texas Eagle near
sunrise, Saturday November 30, 2013.
Included:
1) UP 6066, 6700, 7311, 5788, UP/SP 6259, 8787, UP/SP 6375, 7438, 6508,
4468
2) BNSF 7918, 987, 4990, 5252
3) KCS 4557, 4506
4) Amtrak Texas Eagle 21.
TRAINS, STREETCARS AND CHRISTMAS
TREES LITTLE ROCK DECEMBER 1, 2013
- Trains and streetcars Little Rock Sunday, December 1, 2013. I also
included some scenes of the Capital Hotel's Christmas tree lighting in
Little Rock in the evening.
Included:
1) GMTX 2112
2) UP/SP 2047, UP/SSW 2003, UP 1784, 1954, 1970, 3795, 4628, 3995,
5937, UP/SP 6405, 6043, 6538, 3955, 9822, 9664
3) SP 243313 Gold West Service boxcar
4) AEX 16169 Grace Davison hopper
5) INTX 35052 Great Lakes Carbon GLC hopper
6) GMQX 094 and a string of other Granite Mountain Quarry gondolas
7) Streetcars in Little Rock decorated with Christmas lights
8) Giant Christmas tree lighted inside Capital Hotel
FOGGY TRAINS AND STREETCARS
LITTLE ROCK DECEMBER 3, 2013
- Dense fog stayed around all day in Little Rock of most of Arkansas on
Tuesday December 3, 2013, making for some unique train shots, including
UP 1995 the CNW heritage, an Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar ADN
9722
that had the ADN name and emblem painted over, and a van securely
parked at Union Station that had the words "America is too Great for
small dreams--Ronald Reagan" written on it.
Included:
1) UP 2047(SP), 1974, 2003(SSW), 5648, 7242, 4974, 4406, 1784, 1970,
1954, 7231, 1740, 9802, 4906, 4386, 2513, 8661, 1995
2) BNSF 5144, 9521, 9264
3) Ferromex 4055
4) Pigeon on wire
5) CNW 741087 green gondola
6) Parked van with words "America is too Great for small dreams-Ronald
Reagan"
7) Streetcars
8) CMFX 7058 hopper with goose
9) ADN 9722 Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar with the ADN words
and emblem painted over in green
ICY TRAINS LITTLE ROCK SUNDAY
DECEMBER 8, 2013
- After 3 days in the house due to icy weather and roads, I decided to
brave the elements and go to Union Station from North Little Rock on
Sunday afternoon, December 8, 2013. There was patchy ice on the roads
and the temperature was 28 degrees, but very few cars out, so I could
easily miss the ice patches by using the full width of the road. One
reason I made the trip was to try and catch NS 1070, the Wabash
Heritage unit, which was on a northbound BNSF oil train, OSJEE-7.
However, I missed it because it got too dark and the roads were
refreezing. It arrived at 5:50 p.m. but I had left the
station at
5:10 p.m. But, I did catch two UP trains on the icy tracks
and a
shot of the lit-up Arkansas State Capitol. I also included a couple of
pictures from three days ago, Thursday December 5, including UP 2001,
one of the Olympic units.
SUNNY DAY AND TRAINS LITTLE ROCK,
DECEMBER 10, 2013
- Patchy ice remained as I got some train shots in Little Rock, Tuesday
December 10, 2013. I included some streetcar action and photos of the
abandoned and dismantled Camp Robinson Spur in North Little Rock. This
spur track once belonged to Missouri Pacific and went to Camp Pike/Camp
Robinson, home of the 39th Army Infantry. It was taken up in
2010. UP owned it since it took over Missouri Pacific in
1982.
The last train I saw on it was in 1990 during the first Gulf War.
Included today:
1) UP 5817, 6657, 9564, 9803, 9627, 9802, 5780, 8367, 4002, 8646, 3784
2) LRWN 1541, 2017, Bay Line 500
3) Streetcar taken from my car in front of the Capital Hotel
4) Klemme Coop Grain 182981 hopper
5) TILX 111102 tankcar
6) LYBX 4030 tankcar blt 8-13
7) CSXT 491824 gondola
8) TOE 33052 boxcar newly painted
9) ATSF 179439 Santa Fe hopper
10) Bird on pole
11) FOBX 90003 long blue and white tankcar
12) Abandoned-dismantled Camp Robinson spur North Little Rock
14) BNSF 500193 gondola
TRAINS-STREETCARS AND REMAINING
ICE LITTLE ROCK DECEMBER 11, 2013 - I wasn't
planning on doing any train photography at Little Rock today, Wednesday
December 11, 2013, but on my way home from a Christmas party, I saw two
NS locomotives sitting in front of Union Station from street on the
hill behind the station. So, I HAD to go there to check them out. I
stayed for a couple more trains, including one that had two red MKT
gondolas together. Then I went downtown to get a few shots of
streetcars later in the day.
DME 6362 AND OTHER TRAINS LITTLE
ROCK DECEMBER 12, 2013
- DME 6362 "City of Lamberton" Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern
locomotive plus a couple more trains in Little Rock on Thursday,
December 12, 2013. Thanks to Anthony from Pine Bluff, Arkansas for the
heads up. This locomotive was built for the Milwaukee Road as MILW 198
in May 1974. It's an SD40-2.
20 MINUTE EARLY TEXAS EAGLE AND
STATE CAPITOL LITTE ROCK DECEMBER 12, 2013
- Amtrak's northbound Texas Eagle Number 22 got to Union Station in
Little Rock, AR at 11:10 p.m., 20 minutes early, on Thursday night,
December 12, 2013. It had Amtrak locomotive 66 on the point, one of the
Amtrak 40th anniversary engines. I also took pictures of the
Arkansas State Capitol with its' new LED Christmas
lights.
The Capitol is only a couple of blocks away from the train station.
SATRUDAY AFTERNOON TRAINS LITTLE
ROCK DECEMBER 14, 2013
- A few trains Saturday afternoon, December 14, 2013 at Union Station
Little Rock before I went to the annual Arkansas Railroad Club's
Christmas party. Notice the thumbs up of an engineer on UP 8651.
Included:
1) UP 8550, 4267, 4693, 8651, 4105, 3878, 3860, 4541
2) NS 6623, 8869, 9286, 8973
3) INVX 38180 hopper
4) GATX 70682 2-dome tankcar, blt 8-97
5) CNW 11791 dump car, blt 3-83
6) Thumbs up from an engineer
7) MKT 510 former green MKT hopper
8- Piggyback trailers
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE 22 LITTLE ROCK
DECEMBER 17, 2013
- Amtrak's Number 22, the northbound Texas Eagle, arrived in Little
Rock, Arkansas a little early and left on time on Tuesday night,
December 17, 2013. Here's a few photos.
BLUE SKIES AND TRAINS LITTLE ROCK
DECEMBER 17, 2013
- A nice selection of trains passing Union Station in Little Rock,
Arkansas on Tuesday, December 17, 2013, including a two-car stack
train. I also included a picture of the NASA Orion test space vehicle,
which was on its way to San Diego from Virginia. It was here overnight
on December 15 so the Kenworth truck that was hauling it could be
serviced.
Included:
1) UP 5021, 8551, 8749, 4272, 3899, 4331, 1944, 1826, 1784, 5167, 9465,
9544, 4235, 4185, 4926, 3811, 6747, 2047, 4300
2) KCS 4055 Belle
3) GMTX 2609, 2152, 2112
4) Ferromex 4060
5) SRN 55096 green boxcar
6) CSXT 180174 blue hycube boxcar
7) DMM 1716 boxcar
8- LRWN 195030 Detroit & Mackinac Railway boxcar
9) SCL 203570 Family Lines hopper
10) CSXT 180668 hycube
11) GTW 126754 Grand Trunk Western hycube
12) CNW 520050 green boxcar
13) CNA 795163 Canadian National hycube
14) GTW 127095 Grand Trunk Western hycube
15) ICG 680117 Illinois Central Gulf hycube
16) Jet contrail closeup
17) MKT 16175 and 16385 red gondola
18) MGNX 10100 shiny small black tankcar
19) NASA's Orion space vehicle being transported from Virginia to San
Diego via truck
RED PIPE TRAIN COLUMBUS, TEXAS
DECEMBER 23, 2013
- A couple of trains on the Union Pacific's Sunset Route through
Columbus, Texas on Monday, December 23, 2013, including a red pipe
train heading westward
CHRISTMAS TRAINS LITTLE ROCK
DECEMBER 24, 25, 2013
- .Here's a few trains in Little Rock on Christmas Eve and Christmas
Day 2013, including roadnames from UP, KCS, CSX, GMTX, CN, and BNSF and
a Canaan American RR boxcar, LW 1020. Also Amtrak 22 northbound Texas
Eagle Christmas Eve and a few holiday streetcars.
Included:
1) UP 7687, 4260, 9537, 4053, 6644, 6718 (CNW Operation Lifesaver
unit), 5487, 6008, 582, 8417, 9607
2) KCS 4557
3) CSX 5234, 5200, 5415
4) BNSF 6166, 6168, 5205
6) GMTX 2653
7) CNW 745020 long green gondola
8) SBLX 14102 black and white tankcar
9) LW 1020 Canaan American RR boxcar
10} Little Rock holiday streetcars
11) Amtrak 22 Texas Eagle Christmas Eve at Union Station
12) LED lights on bridges over the Arkansas River
13) TILX 263505 green tankcars
14) UTLX 920096 new tankcar
15) SOO 122858 and other Canadian Pacific hoppers
16) Mockingbird
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS INCLUDING
DAYTIME TEXAS EAGLE DECEMBER 27, 2013
- Friday, December 27, 2013 at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas .
There were a good number of trains today, including a KCS empty coil
train, a rare view of Amtrak's Texas Eagle in the daytime, and a BNSF
local. I saw locomotives with 9 different roadnames, including UP,
GMTX, CSX, Ferromex, Amtrak, BNSF, KCS, AKMD and DME.
Included:
1)
UP/SP 2047, UP 7468, 7986, 7916, 4013, 4277, 4302, 4563, 9472, 4317,
4312, 7132, 6629, UP/SP 6257, UP 4089, 6353, 6933, 4007, 4785, 4907
2) GMTX 2112
3) CSX 7573, 5371, 613
4) Ferromex 4030
5) AMT 57
6) BNSF 5144, 9897, 9264, 2009, 518
7) KCS 4115-Belle, 4617
8) AKMD 918
9) DME 6362
10) MKT 16271 and 16216 red gondolas
11) GACX 970303 pink hoppers
12) Amtrak Texas Eagle
13) String of white and black alternating tankcars
14) GRW 4866 "The J"coil gondola
15) Poles
16) PENX 3007 Penford Products Co - Penwest hopper
17) Mockingbird and pigeon
18) BNSF 808117 boxcar
19) NADX 120054 low boxcar
20) BNSF 449246 green BN hopper
21) CN 415151 new boxcar with a whole string of CN boxcars
PREDAWN AND DAY TRAINS LITTLE
ROCK DECEMBER 29, 2013
- A few pre-dawn and day trains at Union Station in Little Rock, Sunday
December 29, 2013, including a BNSF coil train on the Amtrak siding
with BNSF 8279, an almost unfaded Warbonnet, and a BCRail locomotive
4614. I saw locomtoves with 7 different roadnames today, including 6
CSX engines, 2 NS, 2 BNSF and 21 UP.
Included:
1) UP 4032, 7103,
4668, 568, 5001, 3964, 4759, 4045, 6778, 7237, 6305, 6400(SP), 4130,
4841, 4949, 3819, 8387, 306, 9723, 7940, 7234
2) BCOL 4614
3) NS 9006, 8767
4) Ferromex 4040, 4640
5) CSX 7364, 3142, 7362, 7318, 3079, 714
6) BNSF 5507, 8279 (Good Warbonnet)
7) HLCX 1028 and 2137
8) Hawk and pigeons
9) Euro-Tainers
10) BNSF coil train
11) ACFX 71769 blue tankcar
12) WPHX 2018 long white and blue tankcar
LAST TRAIN OF 2013 LITTLE ROCK
AND FIRST 2014 TRAIN DECEMBER 31, 2013-JANUARY 1, 2014
- I went to Union Station in Little Rock on the last night of 2013,
December 31, 2013 and caught the last train of the year to pass the
station, a BNSF oil train. Plus I got one of the first trains of 2014
later that night. Also saw Amtrak's Texas Eagle 22 come into the
station 20 minutes early. There was a huge New Years Eve party in one
of the banquet rooms in the front-south side of the station (the tracks
are on the back-north side).
2014
BNSF AND NS TRAINS LITTLE ROCK
JANUARY 1, 2014
- Two New Year's Day trains, 2014, at Union Station in Little Rock. One
was a BNSF oil train, the other a NS empty baretable train. There
undoubtedly were more trains today, but I slept till 3 p.m.
PREDAWYN TO NOON TRAINS LITTLE
ROCK JANUARY 3, 2014 INCLUDING TEXAS EAGLE
- A windy and cold morning at Union Station in Little Rock, AR on
Friday, January 3, 2014. It was 17 degrees when I got there at 3:30
a.m. and I got photos of several trains, including the southbound
Amtrak Texas Eagle and the MFWNL freight which had a varied locomotive
consist (thanks for the heads up on Facebook from Charlie Chambers
about this freight.)
Included:
1) UP 5001, 7791, 7445, 7317, 4271,6275-SP, 4513, 1974, 2003, 8815,
4170, 7898, 5862, 5166, 1944, 1977, 6271-SP, 6420, 6694
2) CSXT 252, 9020, 437
3) AMTK 94
4) CN 2147
5) NS 6782, 8965
6) CP 8570
7) SPMW 7245
8) MKT 545 green hopper
9) DRGW 10037 Rio Grande hoper
10) Capital Hotel Christmas Tree-last day (voted 7th best in country by
Forbes Magazine)
11) MKT 16177 red gondola
12) GACX 516176 Southern Illinois Railcar Hopper
DARK, COOL DAY LITTLE ROCK AND A
LATE TEXAS EAGLE AND FREIGHTS JANUARY 4, 2014
- Saturday, January 4, 2014 was a cloudy and chilly day at Union
Station in Little Rock. The southbound Amtrak Texas Eagle No. 21 was 9
1/2 hours late into town because of snow delays in Illinois, especially
around the Chicago area. I've included pictures of the station activity
when the Eagle arrived at 12:30 p.m. (due at 3:02 a.m.) plus several UP
freights during the day.
Included:
1) UP 4524, 7930, 8387, 4308, 4795, 7372, 7473, 1998, 8727, 9803, 4743,
7477, 4758, 6938 on display
2) CSXT 7636, 4727
3) LRWN 2017, 500
4) CN 5714, 2159
5) AMTK 89
6) KCS 72063 and 72011 coil cars in Belle scheme
7) MKT 16175 and 16385 red gondolas
8) Load of track panels (i.e. 1/1 scale model track)
9) ADN 9844 former Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar
10) GATX 202277 Abengoa Bioenergy tankcar
11) IBTX 25135 Technical Animal Fat Not Intended For Human Food tankcar
12) Amtrak Texas Eagle 21
13) RCLX 169326 CNW yellow hopper
14) APPX 8000 hopper
15) YKR 926 boxcar
11 HOUR LATE TEXAS EAGLE LITTLE
ROCK JANUARY 6, 2014
- For the second time in the last 3 days, Amtrak's southbound Texas
Eagle 21 of Monday, January 6, 2014 was hours late into Little Rock,
Arkansas. It finally got here at 2:21 p.m., eleven and a half hours
late. The cause again was cold weather and frozen switches in
Missouri and Illinois. It was 16 degrees with a wind chill of minus 3
while I was at the station. Here are some photos I took at
Union
COLD TRAINS LITTLE ROCK JANUARY
5-7, 2014
- A few trains I caught during the cold days of January 5, 6 and 7,
2014 at the station in Little Rock. It was as cold as 15 degrees with
wind chills 3 below zero on a couple of those days with nighttime lows
below 10 degrees. The winds were gusting to 35 mph on occasion, which
quickly froze my hands and my Nikon D5200 's battery didn't like the
cold either. Anyway, I wanted to catch some trains. As I write this on
January 8 about midnight, it was still 32 degrees with light freezing
rain making some roads and most bridges and overpasses slick with ice,
so I won't make it to the train station to see Amtrak's Texas Eagle
come in. In fact, northbound Eagle #22 wad canceled entirely today,
January 8, from San Antonio because the southbound Eagle #21 didn't run
out of Chicago January 7 because of ice, snow and bitterly cold weather
(Chicago had wind chills of -46 degrees). They usually turn the
equipment in San Antonio and didn't any trainset to run north. Also, 3
Amtrak trains were stalled west of Chicago January 6 and 7 due to
bitterly cold weather, snowdrifts, frozen switches. Of course, lots of
airports in the north central and northeast parts of the country were
closed during the peak of the winter storms too. This has been, and
continues to be, an historically record breaking cold, Arctic airmass.
Most interesting photos on this page: BNSF-Santa Fe 928
dubbed
the 'Pink Bonnet' by some---an original St Louis, Iron Mountain
&
Southern Railway Company safe still inside Union Station---AOKX 181650
long green CNW hopper---a very late Amtrak Texas Eagle 21.on January 6.
TRAINS INCLUDING PILLSBURY HOPPER
LITTLE ROCK JANUARY 12, 2014
- Here's a few trains at Union Station in Little Rock on
Sunday,
January 12, 2014 including a Red 'N Ready heavy hauler with a
transformer, a Pillsbury blue hopper built in 1979, a bird framed by
icy tree limbs January 9, and a deflated pumpkin today. Plus my usual
old freight cars.
Included:
1) LRWN-Bay Line 500
2) UP 9526,
7486, 7680, 4569, 7715, 9553, 4421, UPY699, 8434, 4111, 8812, 9485,
5411, 7975, 7637, 4370, 1951, 6261, 4752, 1828, 1784
3) NS 9628
4) CSXT 344, 5347
5) ADMX 85049 ADM hopper
6) SOO 125054 Pillsbury blue hopper
7) DSIX 6890 GATX hopper blt 5-12
8) CHSX 580098 hopper blt 4-08
9) HS 75007 (xxx American) boxcar
10) Red 'N Ready hauler with transformer
11) TTGX 920005 BN green autorack car
12) Auto/truck frames, yellow and green
13) TBOX 662212 clean boxcar blt 9-12
14) SP 247449 Golden West Service boxcar
15) Seagull on Arkansas River
16) Bird framed by icy tree one day last week
17) Deflated pumpkin
CLCX 12132 AND OTHER LOCOS NORTH
LITTLE ROCK, AR JAN 15, 2014
- I spotted these locomotives in North Little Rock today, Wednesday
January 15, 2014: CLCX 12132 (shiny black with yellow stripes), DME
6200-City of Huron, NS 9976, HLCX 1044 (bright red), UP 5210 and boxcar
ALM 841523.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS JANUARY 21-22,
2014
- After spending a few days in north Texas visiting friends and
relatives and going to the train show and Railspot luncheon in Plano
January 18-20, I'm back in Arkansas. Here's a few trains at Union
Station in Little Rock taken January 21 and 22, 2014, including
Wisconsin & Southern boxcars. a railtrain and a Mockingbird,
plus
various other old 'fallen flag' freight cars. (I'll have
photos
from North Texas in another webpage as time permits)
FRISCO, TEXAS RR MUSEUM JANUARY
18, 2014
- On Saturday, January 18, 2014, Jerry Nunn and I went to Frisco, Texas
to take a look at the not-yet-open Museum of the American Railroad.
Here are some photos, including UP 4018 Big Boy, Frisco Steam Engine 19
Consolidation, Santa Fe 49 Warbonnet F-unit, Santa Fe
motorcar
M-160, MKT 438 standard Dining Car, BNSF 9045 heading a coal train past
Frisco 19, Frisco SLSF 1144 wooden caboose, and a long line of
passenger cars.
TRAINS INCLUDING AMTRAK AND
STREETCARS LITTLE ROCK JANUARY 26, 2014
- Several trains passing Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas on both
Saturday January 25 and Sunday January 26, 2014. Locomotives:
UP,
BNSF, CSXT, CP, NS, Ferromex, Amtrak 66 on the Texas Eagle, and former
SP's with UP patches. Also included: several old 'fallen flag' freight
cars, some built in the 1970s - BCOL 60324 green BCRAIL boxcar - MP
706453 hopper, built 12-77 with the MoPac Buzzsaw - TR 585588
blue gondola - SRN 7158 Greenville & Northern Railway
boxcar
- CSXT 507856 boxcar with Charlie Brown comics on it
- A
stack train had several flatcars with white container covers. What are
they covering? Plus lots more freight cars. I also got a few streetcar
shots downtown Little Rock. There was a vivid sunset on Sunday, which I
also got pictures of and a closeup of a pigeon.
UP 2001 OLYMPIC UNIT
PLUS OTHER TRAINS LITTLE ROCK JANUARY 29, 2014
- Little Rock trains Wednesday, January 29, 2014, including UP Olympic
2001 and my usual assortment of freight cars. There was a southbound
KCS
intermodal today, and for a brief time all 3 of Union Pacific's tracks
in front of Union Station were occupied. I included some reporting
mark's owners on some of the freight cars since I hadn't seen some of
these ID's before. Plus a few scenes of the former Rock
Island
tracks in west Little Rock.
Included:
1) UP 7864, 4353, 5894, 8648, 4540, 5128, 6860, 7097, 2001, UPY 141
2) KCS 4623, 4100
3) NS 2539 rather worn-looking
4) Former Rock Island tracks along Rebsamen Road in Little Rock, close
to the Big Dam Walking bridge
5) CHTT 287363 new coil car (Chicago Heights Transfer Terminal)
6) CNW 178338 green hopper
7) UP 908444 hycube boxcar
8) UP 355275 old yellow boxcar
9) VMSX 280479 tankcar (Valerie Marketing & Supply Company)
10) INVX 38185 bright white hopper (Invista S A R L)
11) RAIX 6630 blue tankcar (Union Carbide Corporation)
12) RCRX 2917 white and red tankcar (Reagent Chemical &
Research Inc.)
13) MOCX 499009 hopper (The Mosaic Company)
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS JANUARY 30,
2014
- A few freights at Union Station Little Rock, AR January 30, 2014,
including a Cotton Belt hycube boxcar and a dump train, plus my usual
assortment of old freight cars. Also, locomotive CLCX 12132 was back in
North Little Rock on January 30. It was also here a few days ago, then
was in Pine Bluff a couple of days, and now has been interchanged with
the NS in Memphis as of January 31 at 6:23 a.m. Today I had locomotives
with reporting marks from UP, CSXT, NS, CN, GMTX and CLCX.
SIX TRAINS IN ONE HOUR
PLUS MORE INCLUDING BLUE LIGHTS ON JUNCTION BRIDGE JAN 31, 2014
- A surge of 6 trains in one hour at Union Station in Little Rock,
Arkansas on Friday, January 31, 2014 between 10:23 a.m. and 11:23 a.m.
plus more trains afterwards. There were 6 roadnames on locomotives
today, plus a colorful BNSF train that had BNSF Warbonnet 4708 leading,
followed by BNSF orange/yellow 4153 and CP red 9553. I also included a
night shot of the Main Street bridge and Junction Bridge lit up with
blue LED lights. The Junction Bridge used to belong to the Missouri
Pacific, but is now a pedestrian bridge.
Included:
1) UP 5992, 5879, 8336, 9399, 596, 3850, 4387, 1970, 1827, 4777, 4387,
4370, 7930, 4853, 4755
2) LRWN 2017, 500
3) BNSF 4708, 4153
4) CP 9553
5) HLCX 3880
6) FXE 4668
7) ATW 75037 Laurinburg & Southern RR boxcar
8) BFGX 1629 and 1777 blue hoppers
9) TILX 353004 white tankcar blt 11-13
10) BNSF 425734 hopper
11) DGRW 10037 Rio Grande hopper
12) CNW 180253 yellow hopper
13) AM 545 boxcar blt 9-79
14) SP 2474 Golden West Service boxcar
15) SP 337964 gondola
16) SP 3382106 Golden West gondola blt 9-75, re-blt 8-98
17) MWCX 460424 hopper Family
18) LRS 256 blue boxcar
19) CCLX 51066 Corn Products hopper
20) SRN 7179 Greenville & Northern Railway boxcar
21) MAEX 4439 hopper
22) HZGX 3251 Herzog hopper
23) MKT 595 green hopper
24) WSOR 101601 blue Wisconsin & Southern boxcar
25) HS 720595 Sabine River & Northern boxcar
26) CN 156255 gondola
27) KWT 5155 Continental Grain hopper,
28) KWT 5058 hopper
29) BCOL 160245 boxcar
30) Former Junction Bridge (MoPac) lit up in blue plus a streetcar in
the River Market
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE 22 LITTLE ROCK
JANUARY 30, 2014
- Amtrak's Texas Eagle No. 22 at Little Rock, Arkansas' Union Station
Thursday night, January 30, 2014. I also got a couple of freights,
including one headed by Santa Fe 602 in the red and yellow 'Warbonnet'
paint scheme.
RAINY TRAINS LITTLE ROCK FEBRUARY
2, 2014
- Got up early to see a few trains on this cold, rainy day in Little
Rock, Sunday February 2, 2014. It was 35 degrees and windy. I caught 10
trains today with locomotives from UP, KCS, GMTX and CSXT,
plus
saw unpatched locomotive Cotton Belt SSW 9708 in North Little Rock.
Trains passed Union Station at 8:10, 8:22, 8:29, 8:41, 9:05,
9:13, 10:09, 10:58, 11:00, and 11:25 a.m. I also saw and
photographed hycube boxcars lettered for DRGW, CNW, CN, MP, GTW, ICG
(original Illinois Central Gulf in ICG colors in good shape), CSXT,
NYC, UP and NS. An interesting hopper was UP 78854, which has
double-lettering of Union Pacific on the side. It looks like a 3D movie
without the glasses. And a photo of a streetcar in North Little Rock.
TRAINS AND ICE LITTLE ROCK
FEBRUARY 4, 2014
- Little Rock and much of Arkansas was under an Ice Storm Warning on
Tuesday, February 4, 2014 and ice accumulated on trees and
power
lines up to 3/4th inch. Roads and bridges were slick in the
morning. However, by 2 pm I noticed that the temperature had risen to
33 degrees so I walked out to the road and saw that the road in front
of my house was only wet and drivable, so I decided to drive around my
neighborhood and check out the driving conditions. The roads were
passable, but heavy ice was all around, in the trees, power lines,
grass. Since I love rainy, snowy days, I decided to drive to Union
Station and get some train photos in the ice. There were no problems
driving the 8 miles to the station and I was practically the only car
on the road. Here are those icy-train photos plus a few other scenes of
the ice around town.
Trainwise, my shot of the day was
NS 1069, the Virginian Heritage unit, after dark at 8 p.m. I also
caught a transformer on a heavy-hauler and saw CMPX 251109 Aware Resa
hopper. At first I though this might be graffiti but it looks like some
kind of large barcode. What is this?
LIGHT SNOW AND TRAINS LITTLE ROCK
FEBRUARY 6, 2014
- Light snow and trains in Little Rock on Thursday February 6, 2014,
including CP 5907 locomotive and a rare Ashley Drew & Northern
boxcar. Temperature finally got up to 20 by noon, wind chill
10
degrees.
D&H, ICG, ROCK ISLAND
FREIGHT CARS N LITTLE ROCK FEBRUARY 7, 2014
- I found these 3 'fallen flag' freight cars in North Little Rock, AR
Friday February 7, 2014: ICG 680122 Illinois Central Gulf hycube
boxcar, ATGX 12333 Delaware & Hudson hopper, built in 1974, and
NAHX 6555 Rock Island blue hopper. A COLD,
WINDY DAY AT THE STATION IN LITTLE ROCK, TUESDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2014.
- Temperature was 33 and wind chill in the teens. Some of the rolling
stock today: CBTX 245240 SCL hopper, CCEX 4710 Container Blacks hopper,
two UP yellow boxcars together, CSS 2171 Southshore Freight coil car,
blue and green CNW hoppers together, and other interesting freight
cars. Plus Bluejay and Robin birds. Locomotives today were from UP, NS,
KCS and BNSF, including UP 4165, 8490, 1991, 1827, 1787, 4236, 1946,
4256, 5004, 5112, 8539, 6834, 8574, 7997, 9691, 8316, 9704 *** BNSF
7665, 879 *** NS 9786, 8896, 9203, 2610 *** KCS 4706 Belle colors.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS FEBRUARY 15
AND VALENTINE'S DAY 2014
- I caught one Valentine's Day train at Little Rock Feb 14, just before
the rain ended, and several more trains the next day, Saturday February
15. There were locomotives lettered for UP, CSXT, NS, BNSF and CP. I've
included my usual old and new freight cars that I thought were
interesting, including good old Chessie the Cat on a CSXT hycube, Grand
Trunk Western lettering on a GTW hycube boxcar, a Columbus &
Greenville boxcar, and "Expressway For Industry" hopper. One car had a
full side panorama of an outer space scene saying "Your Planet is
Nekst" (spelling 'Next' wrong).
Locomotives today: UP
5681, 6156 (ex-SP), 6724, 4666, 4345, 9732, 9589, 8567, 4896, 5975,
7489, 4617, 4533, 4741, 4276, 3883, 4114, 6546, 4775, 4165 *** NS 9599
*** CSXT 433, 5213, 4722 *** BNSF 6536, 661 (Santa Fe faded with paint
peeling Warbonnet), 1084, 1048 *** CP 9567.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS-SEVEN
ROADNAMES-FEBRUARY 16, 2014
- A good day at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas on Sunday,
February 16, 2014. Lots of trains and lots of roadnames on locomotives
including NS, CSXT, BNSF, KCS, CN, GMTX and UP. Plus old freight cars,
like CNW X201618 maintenance of Way hopper built in December 1963, MKT
green hopper 549, and Apalachicola Northern boxcar.
Locomotives
today: UP 1743, 1827, 1787, 4018, 4449, 9756, 5088, 4762, 7408, 4332,
4519, 5172, 8441, 5621, 7020, 7226, 7741, 4436, 7495, 4295, 9651, 7234,
9404, 5319, 2485, 6274, 8035, 2047(SP), 1974, 2003(SSW), UPY 583, UP
6693, 6179(SP), 6631 *** NS 9273, 9688, 2631, 9748 *** CSXT 3042, 7850
*** BNSF 6063, 5955, 5310, 6717 *** KCS 4159, 4043 *** CN 2306 *** GMTX
2264, 2112, 2157.
LITTLE ROCK & WESTERN
GP-9 103, OTHER TRAINS LITTLE ROCK FEBRUARY 18, 2014
- Little Rock & Western GP9 103 was on LRWN's train this
evening,
Tuesday February 18, 2014, along with LRWN-Bay Line 500, heading to the
UP's North Little Rock yards. LRWN got rid of their other Alcos over a
year ago but kept No. 103 at their headquarters in Perry, Arkansas. I
hadn't see it on this train for over a year. There weren't that many UP
trains today due to track work being done around the busy turnout that
goes from Main 1 to Main 2 near Union Station, but I did manage to get
a few. Only 3 locomotive roadnames today: UP, FXE and LRWN. Locomotives
today: UP 4884, 4878, 3861, 8476, 5103, 5878, 6152(SP), 5789, 1958,
1784 and 1686 *** FXE 4045 *** LRWN 500, 103. Also included are my
various old freight cars, including MKT 598 green hopper and a couple
of old Missouri Pacific hoppers with the faded buzzsaw emblem. Also
today a picture of the south side of Union Station (the front of the
building) and a sunset and tracks.
NIGHT TRAINS AND AMTRAK INCLUDING
NS 1069 LITTLE ROCK FEBRUARY 19, 2014
- Amtrak Texas Eagle No. 22 at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas
Wednesday night, February 19, 2014 plus a few night freights, including
an oil train headed by NS 1069, the Virginian heritage unit, nicknamed
Bumblebee by a girl who said it reminded her of black and yellow
bumblebee. Also, the blue BNSF locomotive on the Little Rock local,
BNSF 2042. Other locomotives tonight: BNSF 2163, 2042 *** Amtrak 97 ***
CSXT 7897 *** NS 1069, 8964 *** UP 8675, 9798 (former CNW).. I took the
photos using natural lighting (the Amtrak platform lights).I used a
high sensitivity setting, ISO 16,000, which does result in
some graininess in the pictures, but allows me to
use a
higher shutter speed so the moving trains wouldn't be blurry. These
pictures obviously can't be enlarged much, but look ok on a small
computer screen. As you will see, it does allow me to take pictures at
night, making it bright as day.
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE FROM CANTRELL
BRIDGE LITTLE ROCK FEBRUARY 21, 2014
- I got brave tonight, Friday February 21, 2014, and got some pictures
of Amtrak 22, the Texas Eagle, from the Cantrell Road Overpass in
Little Rock, looking back at Union Station . This bridge crosses the
Union Pacific tracks between the Baring Cross railroad bridge and Union
Station. I did this shortly before midnight and was quite aware of my
surroundings. This is the first time I've taken night shots from this
location, and it's tricky lighting since you're looking into the
lighted platform. Anyway, it was fun to do.
SP CABOOSE 4609, OTHER TRAINS
LITTLE ROCK FEBRUARY 22, 2014
- Beautiful sunny day with deep blue skies, plus lots of trains at the
station in Little Rock on Saturday, February 22, 2014. The most
interesting catch today was a worn and faded SP caboose 4609 in the
middle of a train. I was told it the train was heading to Missouri and
after I looked up the caboose online, there were pictures of it in
Nacogdoches, Texas as recently as 2012. There were 6 different
roadnames on locomotives today: UP, NS, KCS, CSXT, BNSF and CN. Also,
there were two red MKT gondolas, one Route Rock former Rock Island blue
hopper, a line of brand new PROCOR tank cars built in February 2014 and
other freight cars which I think are interesting. There was a pigeon
trespassing on the tracks too and a bright yellow vehicle/truck with
SSR on the side parked close to the station.
Locomotives
today: UP 5956, 9661, 6546, 4367, 6004, 5846, 8407, 5480, 4367, 6623m
1697, 352, 7485, 3967, 7908, 7365 *** NS 8160 *** KCS 4706 *** CSXT
7897, 9038, 3111, 7894, 7897 *** BNSF 6970, 4911, 6551, 6358 *** CN
5612.
JUST A FEW TRAINS TODAY SUNDAY
FEBRUARY 23, 2014 LITTLE ROCK
- Sunday February 23, 2014 started out sunny and mild but clouded up in
the afternoon and cooled down to the 50s. Not too many trains today,
one reason being some problems with switches locking in the yard and a
couple of trains had to stop and wait until the situation was
corrected. Two trains needed to use the Amtrak siding, one being an
engine move of 8 locomotives. There was the usual variety of freight
cars, but only 3 roadnames on locomotives today- UP, KCS and BNSF, and
the KCS and BNSF units were on the engine move. Locomotives today: UP
3783, 5964, 6838, 7226, 4283, 6172 (former SP), 7849, 6394 (former SP),
8025, 1958, 1784, 8455, 8796, 4286, 1697, 7736, 7993 *** KCS 3613, 4783
***BNSF 7134.
SIX TRAINS IN 37 MINUTES AT
LITTLE ROCK FEBRUARY 25, 2014
- Six trains in a quick 37 minutes at Union Station Little
Rock
on Tuesday, February 25, 2014, including the Little Rock &
Western
and the GMTX Operation Lifesaver locomotive no. 2681. Roadnames of
locomotives today including UP, GMTX and KCS. I have my usual
collection of freight cars, including a short blue tank car that almost
looked like a super-sized O-Scale model, ACFX 71770. Plus an old
Railway Express Agency cart and the station cat. It was sunny and in
the mid 50s today but there's a chance of light snow late tonight, low
of 28 degrees. Locomotives today: UP 9548, 2379, 8492, 7866, 4919,
8028, 5088, 352, 1913, 1870, 1933, 1827, 1944, 1958, 7736 *** LRWN 103,
500 *** GMTX 2681 Operation Lifesaver *** KCS 4009, 4609.
TRAINS AND DEPOT/HOBBY SHOP BALD
KNOB, AR FEBRUARY 26, 2014
- Thought I'd drive the 60 miles north to Bald Knob, Arkansas from
Little Rock on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 and catch some trains and
explore the hobby shop that's inside the 1915 Bald Knob Missouri
Pacific Railroad depot. The hobby shop is called Arkansas
Traveler Hobbies and the station also hosts the White County Rail
Heritage Museum. Also got shots of the two MoPac cabooses they have on
the site (# 11018 and 13675) and the renovation of an old wooden
Railway Post Office/Coach that was built by the St. Charles Car Company
in 1894 for the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad
but
eventually belonged to the Missouri & North Arkansas Railway.
It
was the last wooden passenger car from the M&NA. Bald
Knob
and the depot are on the main lines of Union Pacific on the Hoxie Sub,
which runs from North Little Rock to Missouri. The Memphis Sub diverts
east from the Hoxie Sub right in front of the depot, so you can see
quite a few trains here. It's about an hour drive from Little Rock on
US 67/167, a four-lane interstate quality highway.
I
caught one of the MKT green hoppers, No. 509, passing the station, plus
had locomotives from UP and NS. It was a cold day but sunny,
temperatures were in the 40s. Locomotives today: UP 6924, 7289, 6321-ex
SP, 1929, 1765, 1763, 7476, 6226-ex SP, 7642 *** NS 2731
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE PASSENGERS
BUSED TO TEXAS FROM LITTLE ROCK FEBRUARY 28. 2014
- On Friday February 28, 2014 before sunrise, Amtrak's Texas Eagle 21
lost HEP (electrical power generator that provides electricity to all
the Superliner passenger cars, which is on the locomotives) north
of Little Rock, Arkansas. The train continued to Union
Station in
Little Rock with no power to the passenger cars and all the passengers
got off and buses were called to take them to their destinations in
Texas and Arkansas. The train got to the station about 5:30 a.m. The
buses had to come from Memphis, so it was shortly after noon before the
buses arrived at Union Station. The waiting room was full. Richard
Finch, the lone Amtrak agent on duty at Little Rock today, got donuts
and drinks for the waiting passengers and Next Level, a catering
service housed in Union Station, also supplied coffee and snacks. The
119 passengers all were nice and friendly and I didn't hear anyone
complain about anything. They were kept well-informed on
things.
Below are a few pictures I managed to get, some with my Android
smartphone.
A FEW TRAINS LITTLE ROCK
INCLUDING MKT COIL CAR-ADN BOXCAR FEBRUARY 28, 2014
- Here's a few trains Friday, February 28, 2014 at Union Station in
Little Rock, including the Little Rock & Western train again
and an
Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar on the LRWN train and a MKT coil
car,
still red. Although it was 38 degrees, a light mixture of rain and
sleet fell off and on. Locomotives: UP 5834, 8660, 5110, 6915, UPY 142
*** LRWN 500, 103 *** NS 1036 *** CSXT 336 *** BNSF 7816, 6536, 9124.\\
COLD RAIN AND TRAINS LITTLE ROCK
MARCH 2, 2014
- It was a cold, wet day at the station in Little Rock on Sunday, March
2, 2014 but I wanted to get some train pictures anyway. I had to detour
to get there because many streets were closed due to the annual Little
Rock Marathon, which had over 11,000 runners from 50 states and 41
countries participating. They got soaked in the rain and sleet. There
was even thunder. I was on my usual dry spot at Union Station, the
balcony, but me and my camera still got wet. There were locomotives
with 7 different markings, including: UP, BNSF, CSXT, NS, GMTX, KCS,
LRWN. I also saw a Canadian-American hopper, Louis-Dreyfus hopper, some
Southern Pacific gondolas, CNW blue hopper, NDTX gon, Santa Fe woodchip
car, Cook Industries Inc. hopper, and other old freight cars.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS AND ICE MARCH
5, 2014
- Finally got out to Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas on
Wednesday, March 5, 2014, although there still was lots of ice on the
shoulders of roads. Temperature was around 30. Locomotives today: UP
9815, 2003(former SSW), 1974, 7204, 7845, 6247, 6056, 1098 *** BNSF
4500 *** KCS 4597 *** NS 8359. Plus my usual old freight cars,
including a green CNW coil car.
NS 8100 NICKEL PLATE
HERITAGE-OTHER TRAINS LITTLE ROCK MARCH 7, 2014
- NS 8100, the Nickel Plate heritage locomotive, Friday, March 7, 2014
at Union Station in Little Rock, plus other trains including a C40-8,
UP 9152, built in 1988. There were 6 different locomotive roadnames
today and a green MKT hopper 523. Locomotives today: UP 831, 1762,
1769, 1958, 6818, 6406-SP, 7267, 7523, 5962, 4131, 7655, 8001, 1386,
4191, 8561, 6924, 8622, 9152, 7184. 8462, 8402, 2402 *** NS 8100, 7808,
7708, 8910 *** KCS 4600 *** BNSF 4992 *** HLCX 3804 *** CSXT 7860, 342.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS INCLUDING MPRX
505 BLUE SWITCHER MARCH 8, 2014
- Saturday, March 8, 2014 at Union Station in Little Rock.
Included today is blue switcher/genset (?) 505 and an old Santa Fe
hopper with the old Santa Fe trademark. There were five locomotive
roadnames today including UP, NS, BNSF, MPRX and KCS. All locomotives
seen: UP 4747, 7045, 8455, 4408, 9497, 9466, 7354, 5097, 5048, 5677,
4860, 9514, 8103, 3940, 4454, 5951, 6684, 5673 *** NS 8934, 8024, 2564
*** BNSF 4546, 4846, 7354, 7785, 9222, 672 *** MPRX 505 *** KCS 3968
SLOT TRAIN AND OTHERS LITTLE ROCK
MARCH 9, 2014
- A slot train and other trains Little Rock Sunday, March 9, 2014, the
first day of Daylight Savings Time. It was in the mid 40s and cloudy.
There were 4 roadnames on locomotives today, UP, NS, CN and LRWN. I saw
a SOO line gondola with the large SOO LINES lettering barely visible, a
Missouri Pacific gondola with the MoPac red 'buzzsaw' still visible,
and several old hycube boxcars including Conrail, IC, Grand Trunk
Western and UP. Locomotives today: UP 7890, 2248, 4716, 4627,
9647-former SP, 4935, 5810, 7933, 6030, 5951, 5673 *** NS 8773, 9037,
8699 *** LRWN 500 *** CN 5713.
SP UNPATCHED LOCO 319-BOXCAR
POTATO GRAFFITI-TRAINS LITTLE ROCK MARCH 12-11, 2014
- March 10 and 11, 2014 at Little Rock, Arkansas, including SP
locomotive 319, which is pure Southern Pacific without any UP decals on
it, plus lots of old 'fallen flag' freight cars which I haven't seen in
awhile. There were locomotives labeled with 4 roadnames today including
UP, SP, LRWN and BNSF. Locomotives include: UP 7863, 5119, 3995, 4317,
4501, 5094, 6074, 4202, 9637, 9794, 8848 *** BNSF 4598 *** LRWN 500,
103 *** SP 319. Also, I saw 2 yellow Milwaukee Road hoppers, Farmers
Marketing Association-Colorado hopper, MKT red gondola, 'Freight Bums
fat lady graffiti I call 'Boxcar Potato' because it reminded me of a
lazy couch potato, blue Pam Am boxcar, various types of BNSF hoppers,
Detroit & Mackinac boxcar, old Norfolk & Western
boxcar, Rock
Island blue hopper, Galveston Wharves boxcar "serving Port of
Galveston", J.M.
Huber tankcar, and two green MKT hoppers. Plus more.
FREIGHTS AND TEXAS EAGLE LITTLE
ROCK MARCH 12-13, 2014
- A couple of days of train watching at Union Station in Little Rock,
AR, March 12 and 13, 2014, including the arrival of Amtrak's Texas
Eagle Number 22, northbound, shortly before midnight on the 13th. There
were locomotive roadnames from 6 different owners today: UP, BNSF,
GMTX, CSXT, NS and Amtrak. I saw several old freight cars as usual,
including Missouri Pacific with the large MoPac black buzzsaw on a
hopper, two long green CNW gondolas, and my favorite green MKT short
hopper, plus other trains. Locomotives: UP 7695, 9598, 4071, 2003-ex
SSW, 1974, 6443, 5900, 7103, 9830, 5657, 7066, 6838, 4522, 6652, 1679,
7367, 8805, 4884, 1634, 599, 7254, 7234, 8507, 5988, 7784, 8019, 4557,
9226, 9233, 3769, 647, 5512, 7971, 4160, 3974, 8661 *** BNSF 8773,
7482, 6118, 5953 *** GMTX 2157, 2151 *** CSXT 7909, 5215, 130, 501 ***
NS 7655 *** Amtrak 155
UP 1982, 1989 HERITAGE-OTHER
TRAINS LITTLE ROCK MARCH 15, 2014
- I saw both UP 1982 and 1989 heritage locomotives Saturday, March 15,
2014 at the station in Little Rock, AR plus other trains including a
Altrol Catalysts hopper, MKT red gondola, D&RGW faded Rio
Grande
hopper, the station hawk and many other trains. I noticed several old,
faded freight cars without graffiti, which is very unusual. There were
6 locomotive roadnames today: UP, CSXT, NS, BNSF, FXE, RLIX.
Locomotives today: UP 1982, 1989, 4469, 8810, 7054, 5574, 4253, 4739,
1958, 1762, 4074, 8559, 4784, 6618, 7208, 3917, 8760, 8736, 3796, 4456,
4322, 8647, 1882 *** CSXT 400, 7661, 451 *** NS 2699, 9499
***
BNSF 6592, 6583, 4977 *** FXE 4695 *** RLIX 103.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS MARCH 19, 2014
- Wednesday, March 19, 2014 at Little Rock, Arkansas. There were 4
locomotive roadnames today, UP, BNSF, CSXT and NS. Also more of my old
freight car photos, including a Missouri Pacific large hopper with the
MoPac buzzsaw and one with the Eagle trademark, a former Rock Island
blue hopper with the R visible, SP large woodchip car, MKT large grey
hopper with the M-K-T in large letters still visible, and a
green
MKT hopper. Plus a couple of birds. Locomotives today: UP 6074, 9705,
1750, 1958, 5504, 2515, 7737, 7946, 4655, 5012, 2310, 2281, 1762, 1656,
9384, 5762, 6907, 9497, 8394, 4922, 4815, 3821 *** NS 2768 *** CSXT
3065 *** BNSF 5293, 8765, 9704
TRAINS, A BIRD, A CAT AND 2 SSW
LOCOMOTIVES LITTLE ROCK MARCH 25, 1014
- Tuesday and Wednesday, March 25-26, 2014, trains at Little Rock,
Arkansas including UP 2003 and 1962, both ex-Cotton Belt. Also a
Western Pacific hopper, ballast train, a bird peeking out of a can, and
my cat Tigger. Plus my usual old and new freight cars, including my
favorite MKT green hopper. There were locomotives with ID's from UP,
NS, CSXT, GMTX and LRWN.
Locomotives today: UP 1762 (SD40-N), 1686,
4309, 4336, 4627, 7844, 4285, 7842, 8600, 4970, 8856, 2003 (ex-SSW
GP-60), 1962 (ex-SSW GP-60) *** NS 8875 (C40-9), 2641, 2603, 9970 ***
LRWN 500 (the Bay Line), CSXT 7547 *** GMTX 2281, 2167.
RAINY TRAINS LITTLE ROCK MARCH
27, 2014
- I like trains in the rain (being a retired meteorologist) and today,
March 27, 2014 I looked at the weather radar and saw this
area of
heavy train and thunder moving right toward Union Station in Little
Rock. So...I quickly drove to the station and caught these trains.
Since it was heavy rain, I had to go to the station's balcony
on
the east side to prevent me and my camera from getting soaked. No, the
photos will not make the cover of Trains Magazine or
anything,
but they do show some wet trains. Roadnames today: UP, AKMD, CSXT,
BNSF, and GMTX. Locomotives included today: UP 1784, 5331, 308, 1944
*** BNSF 6545 *** CSXT 7925 *** AKMD 700. Also, a FGLA hopper, and
various roadnames on autorack cars on a BNSF auto train.
TRAINS IN LITTLE ROCK INCLUDING
FRIENDLY WAVES, MARCH 28, 2014
- Friday, March 28, 2014 at Little Rock, Arkansas. It was another day
of numerous showers and thunderstorms, but these train pictures were
taken between the rain. Mostly UP locomotives today, except the GMTX
2157. I saw a yellow ex-CNW hopper that had the "employee owned"
lettering, a Union Equity yellow hopper, an old D&RGW
hopper,
two red MKT gondolas, a Southern Pacific gondola built in 7-71, red
Canadian Pacific hopper next to a green AGP hopper, and a boy waving at
a train with the engineer waving back. Locomotives: UP 4896, 4722,
3967, 4348, 1944, 308 (GP38-2), 1750, 1991, 8723, 6636, 7049, 7237,
2047 (ex-SP), 5810, 1958 *** GMTX 2167.
VERY LATE TEXAS EAGLE, ARMY
LOCOMOTIVES PLUS FREIGHTS LITTLE ROCK MARCH 29, 2014
- A late Amtrak Texas Eagle 21 seen in the daytime, plus freights, two
Ashley Drew & Northern boxcars and two United States Army
locomotives Saturday March 29, 2014 at Union Station Little Rock, AR.
Also a UP faded yellow corrugated hopper built in 1963, a load of large
spools, and Missouri Pacific boxcar with the trademark buzzsaw emblem,
a scale car, and my usual selection of rolling stock. There were 6
locomotive roadnames today from UP, CN, AKMD, US Army, Amtrak and CSXT.
It was a cool, sunny, windy day.
UP 4014 SD70M, US ARMY
LOCOMOTIVE, OTHER TRAINS LITTLE ROCK MARCH 30, 2014
- Sunday, March 30, 2014 at Union Station in Little Rock. There was a
person at the station taking photos as well as another person doing the
same thing in Kansas City for a special 'tale of two cities' story in,
I believe, Railways Illustrated. We had the usual variety of
locomotives and trains. While I was there, I saw locomotives from 4
different railroads: UP, USAX, BNSF and GMTX. Earlier there were
locomotives from CSXT, FXE, CN, NS. Of special interest is U.S. Army
locomotive USAX 4671 being readied for its move to an Army base
somewhere (I was told Fort Hood, Texas), and UP 4014, not the Big Boy
steam locomotive, but the SD70M. I got a closeup photo of a ladybug on
a camera strap, another MKT red gondola, and various other interesting
freight cars. Locomotives: UP 8609, 2310, 5194, 6676, 1974, 2003, 9361,
6021, 4014 (the SD40M, not Big Boy), 6938 (DD40X on display at Jenks
Shops North Little Rock) *** USAX 4671 *** GMTX 2112 *** BNSF 8016,
4119, 5748, 9482, 8922.
FIVE TRAINS 49 MINUTES PLUS UP
1982 APRIL 1, 2014
- UP 1982 heritage plus I caught 5 trains in 49 minutes at Union
Station in Little Rock today, April 1, 2014. The trains came between
12:49 p.m. and 1:38 p.m. Roadnames today were UP, LRWN and BNSF. There
was a long string of new AOKX white hoppers, built in March of 2014 and
another line of new CBFX hoppers, also built in March of this year.
Also got an old Continental Train Comp hopper. The Little Rock
&
Western ran a very long mixed freight past the station using 3
locomotives, No. 400, 103 and 2017. Locomotives today: UP 1982, 4910,
5075, 306, 9697, 4066, 8368, 9378, 8487 *** LRWN 500, 2017, 103 on a
long freight *** BNSF 9526, 5288, 5864.
TRAINS, STREETCARS AND TULIPS
LITTLE ROCK APRIL 4, 2014
- Friday, April 4, 2014 at Little Rock, Arkansas. Included
today
are trains, streetcars and tulips. It was a beautiful, sunny day after
a stormy night before, temperature in the 50s. I started the day early
at Union Station watching Amtrak's southbound Texas Eagle No. 21 arrive
at 8:06 a.m., five hours late due partially to tornadoes the night
before around St. Louis. Then I had the usual amount of freight
traffic, but went downtown to get some streetcar photos along with the
tulips which are blooming now. All freight locomotives today were Union
Pacific, plus Amtrak locomotive 79. Locomotives numbers: UP 3860, 9367,
4228, 3908, 7065, 7524, 6433, 3794, 5680, 9760, 7895, 4843, 5930, 6221
(ex-SP), 7296, 4548, 4741, 4742, 4526.
TRAINS, STREETCARS AND TULIPS
LITTLE ROCK APRIL 12, 2014
- Trains at Union Station Little Rock April 12, 2014 with a few scenes
from earlier in April, including tulips and streetcars, brand new long
line of tank cars, old Chessie System yellow hopper with the sleeping
cat, interesting 3-axle car on Markham Street downtown, old
BN
large gondola, plus other freight cars, old and new. Locomotives with 3
roadnames today: UP, NS, BNSF. -UP 4141, 3784, 7788, 4132, 1627, 9589,
9378, 7124, 5861, 6724 *** BNSF 263 (Santa Fe warbonnet), 7086, 5681,
5873 *** NS 2619, 9170
' LITTLE ROCK TRAINS SUNDAY APRIL
13, 2014
- Several trains at Little Rock's Union Station on Sunday, April 13,
2014, including locomotives from UP, BNSF and NS and my usual
assortment of old and few freight cars. Some of the more interesting
freight cars: MP 706602 hopper with the old Missouri Pacific
buzzsaw trademark, MKT 558 green short hopper built 4-88 (happy 26th
birthday to these little green hoppers!), DUPX 8753 Dupont
tank
car, lots of new tank and hopper cars, UTLK 651196 blue and white tank
car with "Hot Dimethyl Terephthalate" inside, plus other freight cars.
Locomotives today: UP 4481, 5112, 4725, 2003 (ex-Cotton Belt), 1974,
8558, 4344, 8327, 5537, 7379, 8080, 5139, 5057, 8809, 3972, 4150, 7814,
7026 *** NS 9973, 9321, 2775, 9679, 8799 *** CN 5422, 2030 (former UP).
As
information, all my photos start out as 24 megapixel files, meaning
they are huge 6,000 pixels wide files (8-12MB each), but I reduce them
in size for the web to only 900 pixels wide which are less than 100 kb
in size. They usually look fine on a computer screen but if you ever
try to increase their size or zoom in on the screen, they become
grainy. They are meant to be viewed as is. Should you want to make a
print of any of my photos, email me and I'll send you the original
large 6,000 pixels wide file.
CCRX 40010 AND CABOOSE LITTLE
ROCK APRIL 16, 2014
- CCRX 40010, a 20-axle heavy lift 'Schnabel' Railcar, passed Union
Station in Little Rock, Arkansas this afternoon, April 16, 2014 at 3:52
p.m It was on the QHONL-15, Houston to North Little Rock train. It was
on the end of the train, including the CCRX 42003 caboose. I haven't
heard where it's going from here. Data on this unique car from HLI Rail
& Rigging LLC shows this:
Gross capacity 1,100,000 Lbs *** Empty
weight without deck insert 354,000 Lbs *** Overall loaded weight
1,454,000 Lbs *** Number of axles 20 *** Max axle weight 72,700 Lbs ***
Up to 14" lateral shift to assist in negotiating curves. (Thanks
partially to Jim Lueders for the heads up.)
TRAINS, BUZZARD AND DOVE LITTLE
ROCK APRIL 18, 2014
- Friday, April 28, 2014 at Union Station Little Rock. I saw a Little
Rock Port Authority locomotive and locomotives from UP, BNSF, CN, LRWN,
LLPX. Plus my usual assortment of freight cars. Caught a buzzard
feeding on the tracks and a dove on the platform. Locomotives: LLPX
2014-Little Rock Port Authority, 2289 *** BNSF 6751, 9126, 5163, 9945
*** CN 2247 *** LRWN 1541, 103, 2017 *** UP
EASTER SUNDAY AFTERNOON TRAINS
LITTLE ROCK APRIL 20, 2014
- Nice assortment of trains passing Little Rock's Union Station on
Easter Sunday afternoon, April 20, 2014, including locomotive roadnames
of UP, BNSF and NS and my usual variety of old and new freight cars.
Some freight cars today included NAHX 65559 Rock Island blue hopper, a
line of SHPX blue and white hoppers, SOO 118883 hopper, KWT 52??
Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern Railway MNS boxcar, GACX 31632
pink Potash hopper, GLNX 33009 blue tank car with a 'Texas' type star,
SDPX 97089 South Dakota Soybean Processors tank car. Locomotives: UP
4640, 8659, 5080, 5047, 1793, 1686, 682, 4031, 4699, 3947, 6234, 4619,
4305, 7337, 4650 *** NS 9031, 6760, 9170 *** BNSF 5152, 7065, 6669, 789
(Warbonnet).
WET AND SUNNY TRAINS LITTLE ROCK
APRIL 21-22, 2014
- Eight different roadnames on locomotives on Monday, April 21 and
Tuesday, April 22, 2014 at Union Station in Little Rock, AR, including
NS, UP, CSXT, HLCX, FXE, BNSF, LRWN and GMTX. Thunder and rain moved in
late in the afternoon on Monday but it was sunny on Tuesday.Included
are various freight cars as usual, including ITLX 20072 Cargill hopper,
AEX 10300 former BN green hopper, MWCX 462673 Route Rock blue hopper,
MKT 580 green hopper, TWO Ashley, Drew & Northern boxcars, and
other old freight cars. I got a shot of the Arkansas State Capitol and
Union Station with dark clouds overhead.Locomotives: NS 8772 (looked
like the 8772 was hand painted on the front of the engine) *** UP 7936,
5926, 4775, 4236, 352, 7132, 4477, 9613, 9739, 9798 (former CNW), 4938,
4144, 5537, 8327, 4099, 4589, 7709, 7672, 6159 *** CSXT 8597, 3067, 768
*** HLCX 991 *** FXE 4034 *** BNSF 4045, 7471, 9168, 4845, 4024 ***
GMTX 2116, 415 *** LRWN 500, 103, 2017.
CREX 1328 CITIRAIL LOCOMOTIVE AND
TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, APRIL 25, 2014
- A sunny day and trains at Union Station in Little Rock, Friday April
25, 2014. A catch of the day was Citirail locomotive CREX 1328, fondly
knows as a "C-REX" locomotive. There were locomotive roadnames from UP,
BNSF and CREX today. Also, a bird, two airplanes, a rainbow from
yesterday, and my usual old freight cars including NAHX 65674 ex-Rock
Island blue hopper, HPJX 147167 braced hopper, WP 7712 Western Pacific
hopper, lots of car/truck frames, NW 604541 Norfolk and Western boxcar,
DRGW 10045 old Rio Grande hopper. Feeling somewhat lazy and tired
today, I took most of these pictures sitting in a lawn chair on the
platform at the fence with my legs crossed and letting the world of
trains roll by. Locomotives: UP 6214, 5768, 5063, 1686, 1793, 7879,
8619, 3805 *** BNSF 7030, 7449 *** CREX 1328
TRAINS, STORMS, FLOWERS, FLIES
LITTLE ROCK, APRIL 27, 2014
- Sunday, April 27, 2014 was a stormy day in Little Rock, but there
were times when I could still some train pictures. Amtrak's Texas Eagle
northbound No. 22 was over 5 hours late, arriving at 5:07 a.m. instead
of 11:31 p.m. the night before, due to being delayed by a stalled
freight before leaving San Antonio. I got up and got to the station
just as the train was arriving and remained there past sunrise getting
a colorful sunrise as well as a couple of night shots of freights. I
also got photos of a wet downtown Little Rock after 7 a.m., a closeup
of a fly, and pretty purple and yellow and pink flowers. There was some
light hail falling and heavy rain at the station in the pre-dawn hours.
Later Sunday evening, a major 3/4th mile wide tornado destroyed houses
and blew cars and semi's off Interstate 40 near Mayflower, which is
only 20 miles west of Union Station. Mayflower is on UP's Van Buren Sub
which runs from North Little Rock to Van Buren, AR then into Oklahoma.
**** There were 4 locomotive roadnames today, UP, AMTRAK, BNSF and NS.
Also today I saw a GMQX Granite Mountain Quarry loaded ballast train,
ACFX 45924 Penford Products Company hopper Cedar Rapids Iowa, KWT 7000
Farmer's Co-Op Grain Supply Ulysses Nebraska faded hopper, UP 90900 old
large coal hopper, SP 355216 woodchip car, MP 641719 with red MoPac
Buzzsaw, CELX 6205 blue tank car. Locomotives were: UP 6523, 9436,
9533, 8432, 5224, 5700, 6150-ex SP, 6577, 9654, 9619, 9693, 4435, 4680,
5398, 9295, 8525, 9424, 5768, 1666, 7371 *** AMTK 50 *** BNSF 8838,
7335 *** NS 8845.
SUNNY DAY, TRAINS, BIRDS LITTLE
ROCK MAY 1, 2014
- Nice, sunny day and several trains at Union Station in Little Rock,
AR. There were only 2 roadnames today, UP and NS, with one of the
locomotives UP 2001, the Olympics special unit. Also today, SHQX 15045
North Dakota Mill hopper, SSW 70157 Cotton Belt hopper in good shape,
SP 496630 Southern Pacific hopper, PCLX 22289 PGC hopper, lots of
railroad tie loads, new Procor tank cars built 4-14, birds including
affectionate pigeons, MKT 554 green hopper. Locomotives today: UP 4079,
5120, 634, 663, 3849, 5581, 7720, 6055, 5015, 9828, 8603, 7419, 5118,
4135 and 4136 together, 5515, 4779, 9589, 8916, 7506, 8468,
2001
*** NS 6626, 9045, 6924, 8916.
SUNNY THEN CLOUDY LITTLE ROCK MAY
2, 2014
- Friday, May 2, 2014 at the station in Little Rock, Arkansas. It
started out completely clear, then at noon it quickly clouded up and
started to rain, briefly heavily. There were 4 locomotive roadnames
today: UP, BNSF, NS and CSXT. Plus UP patched CNW 9798 and SP
6321. Also, TTX 130731 8-axle heavy hauler, 2 CNW hoppers,
SHQX
7334 Targray tank car, NYC 240022 freshly painted dark blue CSX hycube
boxcar, TILX 304761 new tank car built 4-14, Missouri Pacific caboose
13704 in a park in downtown Conway, Arkansas and a purple flower.
Locomotives: UP 7756, Y644, 5088, 9637, 428, 2353, 1787, 9384, 7631,
4468, 4598, 6321 (SP), 9405, 9798 (CNW), 6675, 7305, 4104, 6759, 8804,
4709, 5010, 4211 *** CSXT 4715 *** NS 9671, 9711 *** BNSF 7479, 7484,
8976.
SEVEN LOCOMOTIVE ROADNAMES-LITTLE
ROCK MAY 4, 2014
- Locomotives with 7 different roadnames today, Sunday, May 4, 2014, at
Little Rock, Arkansas, including UP, LRWN, CN, BNSF, CSXT, NS and
GMTX. Also, there were lots of 'fallen flag' freight cars
today,
such as a Lauringburg & Southern boxcar, a Milwaukee Road
hopper,
MNS hopper, New Orleans & Public Belt boxcars, PHD St Clar Blue
Water Route-Port Huron & Detroit boxcar, MKT red flat car,
Western
Pacific boxcar, and Angelina & Neches River Railroad boxcar.
Also a
long string of new AOKX hoppers, built in 5-11. Locomotives: UP 6405-ex
SP, UP 7874, 7200, 6582, 4156, 9548, 9764, 4220, 1758, 1686, 1762,
5092, 8317, 7106, 5819, 1369, 4597, 8557, 4537, 4914, 2296, 1793, 4069,
3840, 4423, 6748, 7384, 9340 *** LRWN 2017, 103, 500 *** CN 2636 ***
BNSF 5125 *** CSXT 5341, 5112, 8528, 7541 *** NS 8805, 9064 *** GMTX
2166, 2296.
RARE FREIGHT CARS OTHER TRAINS
LITTLE ROCK MAY 8, 2014
- Passing trains at Union Station, Little Rock, AR on Thursday May 8,
2014 including a few rare freight car markings. There were 3 locomotive
roadnames today: UP, CSXT and NS. Also, a purple Iris at my house with
a "Face", BN 461565 green hopper, MP 640852 MoPac gondola with the red
Buzzsaw trademark with a middle school soccer game in the background,
GNWR 7200 ex-Lake Erie Franklin Clarion Railroad Co. boxcar.
Locomotives: UP 8489, 8566, 7603, 4923, 4505, 7506, 8468, 5020, 4931,
709 *** CSXT 7888, 7576, 8589 *** NS 9820.
6 OLD RIO GRANDE
HOPPERS, PLUS MORE OLD CARS LITTLE ROCK, MAY 9, 2014
- Six 1970s-era Rio Grande hoppers in a row on one train, plus lots of
old fallen flag freight cars today, Friday May 9, 2014 at Union Station
in Little Rock, Arkansas. There were 5 different roadnames on
locomotives today, including UP, LRWN, CN (zebra striped), CSXT and
KCS. Some of the more interesting freight cars were CNW
110523
small green hopper, those six Rio Grande hoppers including DGRW 25106,
CNW 520035 green boxcar, KCS 129106 boxcar, WC 54116 Wisconsin Central
gondola, MKT 588 green hopper, WCHX 30215 rusty tank car, CCX 573
Columbian hopper, SP 65055 hycube boxcar built 12-67. Locomotives: UP
6759, 7855, 4831, 3872, 8521, 8860, 5000, 4994, 9647-ex SP *** LRWN
500, 2017 *** CN 2412 black and white 'zebra' *** CSXT 3042 *** KCS
4619.
NATIONAL TRAIN DAY PHOTOS HOXIE
AND LITTLE ROCK, AR MAY 10, 2014
- National Train Day, May 10, 2014. I photographed trains at Little
Rock and then drove north to Hoxie, Arkansas and got lots of trains
there. Hoxie is about 2 hours north of Little Rock in northeast
Arkansas and is where the BNSF Thayer Sub crosses the UP Hoxie Sub,
both busy lines. UP's line runs north-south and BNSF's runs east-west
at the crossing in Hoxie. I caught 7 trains in Hoxie in 1-1/2 hours,
between 5:28 p.m. and 6:55 p.m., 4 BNSF and 3 UP, then on my way home I
caught 3 more UP trains, for a total of 10 trains on my trip to
Hoxie. I didn't leave Little Rock until 3 p.m. Before I went
to
Hoxie, I got some Train Day trains at my usual place, Union
Station and in North Little Rock. Overall today, there were locomotives
having 5 different roadnames: UP, BNSF, CSXT, NS, CSXT and HLCX. UP Rio
Grande heritage locomotive 1989 was in North Little Rock.
Locomotives today: BNSF 8852, 5771, 8843, 5057, 1068, 8221,
8788,
9394, 5739, 6176, 9053, 8221, 4047, 7078, 7154 *** UP 1989, 4141
(tarped), 4653, 5036, 3877, 4820, 8811, 7608, 5590, 4370, 9354, 3973
*** CSXT 7526 *** NS 9854 *** HLCX 3859.Interesting freight cars today
included DUPX 80048 TI.Pure tank car, RJCW 5015 R J Corman coil car,
SAN 583 Sandersville hopper, CCBX 59625 Elastol Flo Hopper, CNA 795928
CN hycube boxcar.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS AND RARE
FREIGHT CARS MAY 11, 2014
- Sunday, May 11, 2014 at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas. There
were 4 locomotive roadnames today: UP, BNSF, CSXT and GMTX. Freightcars
include KBSR 182965 ex-Klemme Coop Grain hopper, MKT green and one grey
hoppers 535, 536 (grey), 572 and 558. SP old woodchip cars, ITGX 11515
and 11516 hoppers, ITGX 11550 Oglebay Northern Hopper, RFMX 64801 Penn
Central hopper, Killdeer bird. Plus many more old freight cars plus
a Killdeer bird.. Locomotives: UP 7398, 4880, 7877, 5098,
4796,
7289, 4601, 1758, 6485, 8626, 8144, 5380, 2003-ex SSW, 7937, 7806,
5031, 7414, 9405, 6562, 7950, UPY 541, UP 4140 *** NS 8023 *** BNSF
5601, 9183 *** GMTX 2112 *** CSXT 561.
AMTRAK VETERANS LOCO 42 AND BOTH
TEXAS EAGLES LITTLE ROCK MAY 12, 2014
- At Little Rock's Union Station on Sunday night/Monday morning May 11
and 12, 2014, Amtrak Texas Eagle northbound #22 had Amtrak's 40th
anniversary exhibit train attached and special Amtrak Veterans
Locomotives 42 and 40th anniversary locomotive 406 in the head-end
consist. The train arrived at 12:50 a.m. May 12, an hour and 20 minutes
late and sat at the station for another 3 hours because of air-brake
issues. These difficult air-brake issues were resolved by Amtrak
personnel and a Union Pacific maintenance person and the train finally
got underway at 3:46 a.m. May 12. Most of the passengers were probably
sleeping the whole time.
Amtrak 21, the southbound
Texas Eagle, was early and it was feared that it might have to wait in
UP's yard before coming to the station because of No. 22 being on the
Amtrak siding, but smart heads prevailed and No. 21 was allowed to
continue to the station, but had to stop on UP Main 2 instead of the
Amtrak siding. It arrived at 2:59 a.m. The crews de-boarded and boarded
passengers on No. 21 across the ballast but placed a walking board over
the ballast so no passenger actually had to step on the ballast. This
was another smart move. Anyway, 21 arrived early and left just a couple
of minutes late. It's unusual to see both Texas Eagles at the station
in Little Rock at the same time and I had both my cameras and got
photos and movies of the busy action at Union Station this night.
TRAINS, BIRDS, INCUDING CIT 6054
LA SALLE RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVE MAY 15, 2014
- A few trains at Little Rock on Thursday May 15, 2014, including La
Salle Railway locomotive CIT 60541 and freight cars GROX 60662 Union
Equity hopper, built in 11-80, MWCX 101240 green BN woodchip car, FURX
828532 West Central hopper, MKT 16293 red MKT gondola, a long string of
TBOX yellow and black boxcars, and other old freight cars. Plus a
couple of bird pictures- Locomotives today: UP 5750, 5774, 5940, 7220,
5611, 8798, 5115, 4259, 7803, UPY 341, 4282, 4226, 5328, 3826, 5209 ***
NS 6771, 9045 *** CSXT 670, 661 *** CIT 60541 La Salle Railway.
12-AXLE HEAVY HAULER PLUS TRAINS
LITTLE ROCK MAY 18, 2014
- Only two names on locomotives today, Sunday May 18, 2014: Union
Pacific and CSXT. But there were the usual amount of trains passing
Union Station in Little Rock. For a couple of hours this morning, the
Baring Cross bridge that crosses the Arkansas River between Little Rock
and North Little Rock was having some issues, and a UP worker had to
work on it. The lift-span horn kept sounding every 1 or 2 minutes, but
the signals seemed to be operating correctly. However, the bridge had
to be checked out and a couple of trains had to stop and get permission
to cross even with the green signal. This issue was resolved quickly.
Of special interest were two heavy-haulers, one QTTX 130712,
eight-axles, and one QTTX 131630, 12-axles. Also COCX 213070 tank car
and NAHX 65674 ex-Rock Island blue hopper. Plus other interest freight
cars. Locomotives today: CSXT 8018, 7638, 5317 *** UP 1793, 1823, 1784,
4232, 4565, 4428, 5996, 5913, 4165, 2353, 647, 794, 8357, 6854, 7033,
4700, 4044, 2208, 4277, 1724, 1773, 4457.
It was an
unusually cool day at Union Station in Little Rock so we were wearing
jackets. It was in the upper 50s while we were watching trains in the
morning, rising only to 64 degrees for a high temperatures, which was
18 degrees below normal (normal high in Little Rock is 82 this time of
year). It was also cloudy and windy and humid (Union Station
is
only a quarter mile from the Arkansas River and we get the resulting
damp air). This cool weather will go away the rest of the week, though,
with highs in the 80s and sunny skies, resulting in better train
pictures.
TWILIGHT-NITE TRAINS LITTLE ROCK
MAY 19, 2014
- On Monday, May 19, 2014, UP 7400, the Pink Ribbon special
locomotive. was the dpu of a stack train and was expected to arrive in
Little Rock around sunset. It got here shortly after 9 p.m. and since
the Amtrak platform lights were not on yet, I only had a couple of
regular streetlights as lighting, so the pictures of 7400 and a couple
of other trains turned out dark and grainy, but at least I made the
attempt. Shortly after UP 7400 passed, the platform lights came on, and
you'll see the difference in the photos. I used my Sony Alpha77 for
these pictures tonight because it has a quick way of changing the
sensitivity (ISO) settings. I used ISO 16,000 for most
photos. I
also played around with special effects on a couple of shots. There
were four other railfans at the station tonight. Even though it was
only 2 hours away, I decided to go home instead of waiting for the
northbound Texas Eagle 22, which was on time tonight. locomotives seen
tonight: UP 4491, 9600, 7400, 5034, 8683 *** BNSF 8969, 4426
***
CN 2183. Also, KRL 300363-12axle heavy hauler, unripe blackberries, a
nice sunset.
TRAINS IN LITTLE ROCK WITH 1961
CADILLAC AND STREETCARS AND RED-TAILED HAWKS, MAY 21, 2014
- Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at Union Station in Little Rock, AR. I caught
two trains passing each other northbound, plus a bird on the platform,
a Red Tailed Hawk in downtown Little Rock, a 1961 like-new bright red
Cadillac convertible, MKT 16433 red gondola, JTSX 487481 hopper, WP
7738 Western Pacific hopper, two jet airplanes overhead, GATX 214510
new tank car built in May 2014, UTGX 80208 hopper with unknown markings
that someone might help identify, a streetcar in North Little Rock, MKT
423 and 509 green short hoppers, and other interesting freight
cars. Three roadnames on locomotives today-UP, CSXT and NS
including UP 1686, 1831, 1833, 1784, 9527, 4720, 3532, 4790, 4460,
4089, 3845, 4070, 4011, 4566, 4444 *** CSXT 5458, 7512 *** NS 2705.
MOTHER LODE OF SANTA FE AND BN
HOPPERS ON ONE TRAIN LITTLE ROCK MAY 22, 2014
- On Thursday night, May 22, 2014 at the Amtrak station in Little Rock,
I saw a BNSF freight pass that had a long string of ATSF-Santa Fe and
BN Burlington Northern hoppers. About 90 percent of the train had
hoppers with the ATSF and BN names on them, quite unusual for me to see
so many on one train. Unfortunately, I was inside talking to the Amtrak
station agent when the lead BNSF locomotives passed and I didn't get
their numbers, but managed to go out and get a few shots of the
hoppers. Can anyone tell me where this train was heading or the train
ID? Thanks. It passed Union Station at 11:20 p.m. May 22.
Included are photos of hoppers ATSF 179?40, 178468, 176033,
178667, 178976, 178770, 179676, 179677, 179714, 179469, 178649 plus
other Santa Fe hoppers I couldn't read the numbers on. BN hoppers
575(?), 575442,575726, 527865, 575330 plus others unreadable in the
lighting.Some of the numbers could be misread because of poor
lighting. Unless you're a Santa Fe or Burlington Northern
hopper
fan, this might be kind of boring, but I'll post it for the record.
TRAINS AND STREETCARS LITTLE ROCK
INCLUDING RED CP BOXCARS AND IC 1007 LOCOMOTIVE MAY 25, 2014
- Sunday, May 25, 2014 trains at Little Rock, including 5 different
roadnames on locomotives: UP, GMTX 2681 Operation Lifesaver, IC 1007,
NS and BNSF. Also today and May 24: Streetcars shuttling people to/from
the annual Riverfest celebration in downtown Little Rock, Canadian
Pacific CP 220019 and 220165 red boxcars with the beaver emblem full of
newsprint next to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's printing facility on
2nd Street in Little Rock, MKT 14029 red coil car, KCS 749351 boxcar,
MKT 556, 542 and 570 short green hoppers, SP 490187 hopper, plus other
interesting freight cars. Also a look at the UP spur track and boxcars
that deliver newsprint to the daily newspaper. Locomotives: UP 1900
(ex-Rio Grande black and yellow), 7295, 9816, 3810, 4716 *** GMTX 2681
Operation Lifesaver *** IC 1007 Illinois Central black loco *** NS
8338, 5372, 2521 *** BNSF 4871, 7658
LITTLE ROCK RIVERFEST, STREETCAR
SHUTTLES, CHOCTAW ROUTE DEPOT MAY 24-25, 2014
- A few scenes of Riverfest in Little Rock, Arkansas, March 23-25,
2014, including some streetcars shuttling visitors across the Arkansas
River to the festival, and some photos of the old Rock Island passenger
depot (now part of the Clinton Library) and the Rock Island bridge,
which is now a walking trail. Vendor tents were in the River Market and
extended to the parking lot and grounds of the Clinton Library.
SEVEN ROADNAMES ON LOCOS
INCLUDING NS 8102 THE PENNSYLVANIA HERITAGE LITTLE ROCK MAY 27, 2014
- There were seven different roadnames on locomotives today, Tuesday
May 27, 2014 at Little Rock, Arkansas, including UP, CP, NS, GMTX,
BNSF, CSXT and KCS-Belle and gray. NS 8102, the Pennsylvania heritage
unit was one of the NS units. Also a line of new TILX hoppers built
4-14, AXLX 9205 tank car, NAHX 6554 former Rock Island blue hopper, WP
12082 Western Pacific hopper, line of GRW gondolas including GRW4461
built 9-74, ADN 9748 Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar in great
shape,
ICG 680056 hycube boxcar in good shape . I also included a couple of
shots from Monday, May 26.
Locomotives today: UP 5785,
5603,7290,5603,7290,7941,9605,7171,7618,7388, 5198, 8674, 6614, 5568,
7241, 6819, 1758, 1818, 1803, 7981, 4907, 4858, 4541 *** CP 8882 *** NS
8102, 9004, 9902, 2620 *** GMTX 2285 *** BNSF 7448 *** CSXT 7396, 7319,
387 *** KCS 4767-Belle, 4601-gray.
BNSF OFFICER'S SPECIAL ON UP
RAILS LITTLE ROCK MAY 30, 2014, 2014
- BNSF ran a special Officer's Special through Little Rock, AR on
Friday, May 30, 2014. It originated in Houston as the PHOHXJ-30. It
went to Hoxie, Arkansas from North Little Rock and then get on the
BNSF's Thayer Sub in Hoxie. It passed Union Station in Little Rock at
2:21 p.m. Thanks for Bob McClanahan for the early morning heads up on
this train. The consist of this train: BNSF 5860, Passenger Cars BNSF
66-Cajon Pass, BNSF 50-Stampede Pass, BNSF 67 Trinchera Pass, BNSF
60-Stevens Pass, John S. Reed (couldn't read the number) and BNSF
32-William B Strong, the last car, a theater car.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS JUNE 1, 2014
- A steady passage of trains passed Union Station in Little Rock on
Sunday, June 1, 2014 and I included a couple of shots from May 30 as
well, including a streetcar in heavy rain downtown. There were 4
different names on locomotives today: UP, NS, GMTX, BNSF. One of the
BNSF units was #927, a Santa Fe Warbonnet with only a very faded BNSF
lettering under the number. Also freightcars SRN 7201 ex-Greenville
& Northern Railway boxcar in good condition, RISC 3861 Hampton
Lumber Car Sales car, a venting pipe on a distant UTLX tank car, GTW
126108 hycube boxcar that is 86.6 feet long - 9.2 feet wide - 12.9 feet
high and stores 10,000 sq. feet. Plus I got a photo of a long
earthworm. Locomotives today: UP 7999, 5752, 4618, 3964, 9367, 4699,
4125, 9671, 7865, 8757, 4228, 3938, 9871, 5461, 4512, 4657, 4664, 4925,
5191, 9481, 7687, 7602, 5118, 562 *** NS 9488, 9085, 9491, 9195 ***
BNSF 4381, BNSF 927 (ex-Santa Fe 927 Warbonnet), 6168.
A ONE-CAR STACK TRAIN, OTHER
TRAINS, BABY BIRDS JUNE 3, 2014
- Just a few trains Tuesday afternoon, June 3, 2014 at Union Station in
Little Rock, including a one-stack- car train with one locomotive.
There were locomotives with 3 different roadnames today, UP,CSXT and
NS. Also a former Rock Island blue hopper NAHX 6559, CSXT 130891
Chessie HyCube boxcar, a Wisconsin Central gondola WC 54116. I also
have a photo of 4 baby birds with mouths open getting fed on a nest.
Locomotives today: CSXT 8715 *** NS 9296 *** UP 3993, 6273 (ex-SP),
4114, 9542, 3385, 3145, 1874, 7263, 6629, 8820, 1551, 1793, 4924, 9743,
5006, 4442, 6163, 4587.
UP 949 E-9 NORTH LITTLE ROCK JUNE
4, 2014
- UP 949, North Little Rock, Arkansas on Wednesday, June 4, 2014. It
was on a mixed freight back to its home in Cheyenne, Wyoming from the
Streamliner Event at the North Carolina Transportation Museum in
Spencer, North Carolina the past weekend. It was supposed to be on the
MNLKC-04. Owner: Union Pacific Railroad Company, Model: EMD
E9A,
Built As: UP 949 (E9A), Serial Number: 20486,
Built: 5/1955
(from RR Picture Archive.net).
TWO TEXAS EAGLES LITTLE ROCK MEET
JUNE 6, 2014
- Amtrak 22, the northbound Texas Eagle, arrived at Little Rock about 4
hours late on Thursday night June 5 due to HEP electrical power failure
in Texas. It arrived at 3:39 a.m. Friday, June 6 instead of the
scheduled time of 11:31 p.m. June 5. It didn't leave Fort Worth
until 4:30 p.m. after a protection locomotive was added to
the
consist to provide electrical power to the passenger cars. Locomotive
64 was placed behind the lead locomotive No. 112 at Fort Worth. This
lateness meant that the southbound Texas Eagle No. 21 would get to
Little Rock about 30 minutes after the northbound Eagle left, so I
stayed around to get both trains. Here are some photos:
TRAINS AND STORMS LITTLE ROCK
JUNE 6, 2014
- Friday, June 6, 2014 was stormy part of the day and sunny in other
parts. Today I parked on the hill across the tracks from Union Station
to get a different angle on things. While there a deluge of rain fell
and winds gusted to over 60 mph uprooting some old trees in the
Historic Arkansas Museum's site a mile away. The winds shook the car
but trees around me weren't blown over. A couple of trains passed while
the rain was falling so I got some shots from inside the car. There
were locomotives having 4 different roadnames today: UP, BNSF, NS and
CSXT. Also today: New KCS autoracks, AGR 8233 Texas Mexican Railway
boxcar, BN 471669 green hopper, POTX 2865 pink Potash hopper, BN 286247
green boxcar, DOMTAR 728006 centerbeam car, bird closeup. Locomotives:
UP 4015, 1803, 1686, 8851, 8376, 7790, 4289, 8393, 9459, 5173, 7010,
6645, 455, 4117, 7820, 4303 *** CSXT 561 *** BNSF 4591, 7559, 7842 ***
NS 8994
STORMS, TRAINS, A LATE TEXAS
EAGLE LITTLE ROCK JUNE 8, 2014
- A dark, stormy day (Sunday June 8, 2014) in Little Rock and other
parts of Arkansas, which led to track signal and switch malfunctions.
We heard on the scanner that trains were stopping to manually throw
switches, including the 4-hour late Amtrak Texas Eagle No. 21, which
finally got to Union Station at 7:25 a.m. Then when it left,
it
had to stop again just west of the station to manually change a switch.
Excessive water and lightning were the main causes of the malfunctions,
according to what we heard. 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.
TRAINS AND TRACK WORK VEHICLES
LITTLE ROCK JUNE 9, 2014
- Monday, June 9, 2014 in Little Rock: A track work gang was moving
their equipment back to the North Little Rock yard after working on
track south of Union Station. I put a photo of each piece of equipment
at the bottom of this web page just for possible interest in the
future. I numbered each of those photos. If anyone wants to tell me
exactly what any particular piece of equipment is used for, I'll update
the webpage with your information. Otherwise, today was sorta slow and
I didn't see many interesting freight cars. But a train is a train,
right? Plus I saw a Dove and the Station Cat. Also today UP heritage
locomotives UP 1983 (WP) and 1989 (DRGW) were put on locals in the
Little Rock area, although I didn't get any photos today, and UP 3300,
the United Way unit, will be in town late tomorrow, June 10.
Locomotives today: UP 1551, 1793, 6662, 5014, 3861, 8154, 4348, 3702,
4788, 9711, 8322, 6276 ex-SP *** GMTX 2156
UP 3300 UNITED WAY LOCOMOTIVE
NORTH LITTLE ROCK WHEN NEW MANY YEARS AGO, ADDED TO THIS SITE JUNE 10,
2014
- I don't know about what officially is supposed to happen with the
3300, but the Union Pacific Company Store i Jenks had these photos of
the unit after it was painted (I don't know when). Here's a photo of
the photo. As of this writing (11:30 p.m. Tuesday June 10) the 3300 had
left Van Buren, AR and was expected in North Little Rock about 6
a.m.June 11. It'll be coming from the west on the Van Buren Sub. I've
head rumors it'll be rebuilt into an SD40N and repainted UP Armour
Yellow.
TRAINS AND SUNSET LITTLE ROCK
INCLUDING UP 1983 AND 4141 JUNE 12, 2014
- Central Arkansas trains Thursday, June 12, 2014 in Little Rock and
North Little Rock, including a sunset at Union Station. Included today
are UP 1983-Western Pacific heritage and the old standby UP 4141-George
Bush Library special locomotive still under tarp at Jenks Shops in
North Little Rock. This locomotive is kept ready to run in case it's
needed/wanted by the Bush Library folks in Houston and College Station,
Texas. Also today PHMX 4414, 8-axle heavy hauler and a UP
crane.
Locomotives today: UP 1983, 4141 *** BNSF 8074, 5154, 7042
LOTS OF VARIETY TODAY INCLUDING
NS 8102 PENNSYLVANIA HERITAGE AND DAYLIGHT TEXAS EAGLE LITTLE ROCK
- Saturday, June
14, 2014 at Little Rock's Union Station was one
of the busiest train days I've seen in awhile and had a lot of variety
with 10 different roadnames, including locomotives from UP, GMTX, CN,
Amtrak, CP, RLCX, NS, BNSF, TFM, and CSXT. Of special interest today
was NS 8102-Pennsylvania Heritage unit on an empty northbound oil train
and road switcher RLCX 918 in a freight consist. Plus interesting and
rare freight cars, such as EUSX 448005 long tank car ** UP 909944 short
green water tank car ** MP 641134 red MoPac gondola with the 'buzzsaw'
trademark, built 12-76 ** ANGX 4138 gondola built 2-95 ** SRN 6008
ex-AT&W boxcar ** ENVX 206212 black hoppers with white lid tops
(?)
** IAPX 1078 shiny blue and white tank car ** SOO 7569 hopper ** MKT
535 and 544 short green hoppers. I also got a closeup of a Killdeer
bird on a rail and a jet airliner overhead.
The day
started out early so I could get the 8-plus-hours late Amtrak
northbound Texas Eagle, which arrived at 7:45 a.m. on June 14 instead
of 11:31 p.m. the night before. The delay was caused by containers
being blown off a stack train west of San Antonio, Texas, derailing the
stack train. This derailment delayed the eastbound Sunset Limited over
5 hours and the Texas Eagle waited for it to arrive in San Antonio to
receive transferring passengers before leaving. Then I heard that just
as the Eagle was leaving San Antonio, a semi ran into the Eagle at a
road crossing, further delaying the train. On the bright side, it
allowed daylight pictures of the Eagle at Little Rock with a bright sun
and clear skies. The Texas Eagle was lead by Amtrak locomotive 131. Of
course, it also was Friday the 13th with a full Moon.
Locomotives today: UP 8706, 8821, 8530, 9143, 5066, 6805,
8322,
9520, 4527, 5385, 5160, 3805, 5588, 3909, 9618, 8618, 5221, 8606, 9619,
7471, 5636, 6415 (ex-SP), 6053, 7443, 7136, 4514, 5433, 4751, 7404,
7135, 3942, 9241, 5164, 8851, 5840, 9270, 2204, 9364, 5816, 2003
(ex-Cotton Belt), 8572, 7707, 8790, 4244, 4203, 1793, 1758, 5362, 5128,
6304 (ex-SP) *** GMTX 2112, 2681-Operation Lifesaver) *** AMT 131 ***
CP 8867 *** RLCX 918 *** NS 8322, 8797, 8869, 8812, 9297, 9656, 6608,
9777, 8102 (Pennsylvania Heritage) *** BNSF 4157, 927 (ex-Santa Fe
Warbonnet), 4381, 7448, 5862 *** TFM 1656 (in KCS grey and yellow) ***
CSXT 387, 329, 235, 7798, 5459 *** CN 2183, 2133.
FREIGHTS AND AMTRAK JUNE 19 AND
20, 2014 LITTLE ROCK
- Here's a few photos I took on Thursday night, June 19 and Friday,
June 20 around Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas. The page
includes pictures of freights and Amtrak Texas Eagle 22. Six different
roadnames this time. Locomotives included: UP 8450, 3862, 8003, 8504,
9418, 5828, 5226, 6931, 9580 *** AMTK 17 *** Santa Fe (BNSF) 2849 blue
and yellow *** BNSF 2009 *** LRWN 2017 *** CN 2115
PREDAWN TRAINS AND AMTRAK 21
LITTLE ROCK JUNE 22, 2014
- On Sunday, June 22, 2014, after taking someone to the Little Rock
airport at 4 a.m. to catch a flight to San Francisco, I went to Union
Station to catch a late southbound Amtrak Texas Eagle and get some
pre-dawn trains. I decided to just stay at the station and got several
pre-dawn and daylight trains until almost noon. There were locomotives
with 8 different roadnames today, including UP, GMTX, LLPX, NS, KCS,
BNSF, CSXT and AMTK.
Also, I got a streetcar taken from
inside the Capital Bar and Grill while I was having lunch, GNWR 7207
Lake Erie Franklin & Clarion Railroad Company boxcar, HCSX 9601
rusty hopper built 2-76, CNW 745016 green gondola, CP 220277 red CP
boxcar, ICG 767361 hopper, line of new TILX hoppers built 6-14, TILX
261217 green tank car, AEX 161546 Grace Davison Fluid Cracking
Catalysts hopper, a pretty sunrise, SOO 76440 SOO hopper, NS 194479
ex-MoPac gondola with red buzzsaw emblem, Amtrak southbound Texas Eagle
No. 21, a new rail-train. Locomotives today: UP 8824, 8781, 2003-ex
Cotton Belt, UP 4818, 9129 Faded, 7320, 8317, 4591, 7958, 2262, 4527,
4442, 4518, 7189, 2034, 1781, 1758, 7480, 4255, 2047-ex SP,
5169,
9439, 5120, 7876, 5105, 5381, 7302, 8821, 7487, 7489, 7423, 6581 ***
LLPX 2249 *** GMTX 2145 *** NS 9142, 9452 *** KCS Belles 4107, 4129 ***
BNSF 9248, 4542 *** CSXT 7828 *** AMTK 190 on Texas Eagle 21.
FMI 50 AND OTHER TRAINS LITTLE
ROCK-NORTH LITTLE ROCK JUNE 26, 2914
- Thursday, June 26, 2014 at Union Station in Little Rock and in North
Little Rock. A fellow railfan came into town on Amtrak's Texas Eagle
before dawn to visit his mother on her birthday, so I went to the
station to meet him an got photos of the 3-hour late Eagle shortly
before 6 a.m. and other predawn trains, then stayed and got more shots
after it got light. I had locomotives with 9 different roadnames: FMI,
KCS, FXE, BNSF CEFX, UP, NS, AMTK, and GMTX.
Also,
freight cars INTX 462109 Family Lines-SCL/LN hopper, EAMX 7003 with old
Santa Fe round trademark, NAHX 65543 ex-Rock Island blue hopper in
great shape, MP 641167 gondola built 5-77 with faded 'buzzsaw' emblem,
ICG 767415 hopper built 3-80, ICG 680070 hycube boxcar, UP 903025 Scale
Monitor Car, GACX 8174 "Feeding America.Org" hopper, a Centipede, and a
link that has the history and current uses for Union Station in Little
Rock, including Amtrak Texas Eagle ridership for 2013 and revenue for
2013 (Annual Station Revenue over 2 million, $2,088,374 **
Annual
Station Ridership (2013) - 22,351, which I think is really
good
considering that both the north and southbound Texas Eagles come
through here in the middle of the night, around midnight and at 3 a.m.)
Locomotives:
FMI 50 ("America's Leading Copper Producer" can be seen under the red
stripe left of center. The lettering in the center says
"Freeport-McMoRan Copper and Gold Morenci Operations". ***
KCS
4049 *** FXE 4089 *** BNSF 642 ('warbonnet'), 5935, 4183, 9760
('executive' scheme) *** CEFX 1039 *** NS 8441, 8063 *** AMTK 190 ***
GMTX 2112 *** UP 7735, 8783, 6045, 6706, 4822, 8390, 8724, 2003
ex-Cotton Belt, 2047 ex-SP, 1778, 1803, 1551, 4281, 3894, 6675, 5980,
3987.
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE 22 LITTLE
ROCK, JUNE 27, 2014 EARLY
- On Friday night, June 27, 2014, Amtrak northbound Texas Eagle 22
arrived at Union Station in Little Rock, AR 15 minutes early,
arriving at 11:16 p.m. Here are a few scenes of the busy station at
train-time. There were no special groups, just regular
individual/family ticket-holders. Nice to see a busy Amtrak station,
especially in the middle of the night.
AMTRAK ENGINEER BILL SANDERS LAST
RUN LITTLE ROCK JUNE 29, 2014
- On Sunday night, early Monday morning June 29 and 30, 2014, Amtrak
engineer Bill Sanders made his last run after 36 years with Amtrak and
Missouri Pacific. His last southbound train, Texas Eagle 21 from Little
Rock to Marshall, Texas, left Little Rock on June 29 early in the
morning, and his final run, Texas Eagle northbound 22, left Marshall
June 29 in the evening and got to Little Rock at 12:49 a.m. Monday,
June 30. Bill's family rode the train with him both directions. I have
photos of the trains in Little Rock plus movies of both trains.
VARIOUS LITTLE ROCK TRAINS
INCLUDING TREE LIMBS ON A BNSF LOCO JUNE 27-28-29, 2014
- A few train pictures from June 27, 28 and 29, 2014, some taken at
night at Little Rock, Arkansas, including flooding rain. At the end of
a BNSF oil train on June 29 there were tree limbs on the locomotive and
on the buffer hopper car ahead of it. The locomotive had railing and
door damage. Also, photos of flooding rain at the station, St Lawrence
Railroad Boxcar 101701 built 10-77, and BNSF 888 ex-Santa Fe warbonnet.
Locomotives this time: UP 9698, 8053, 3519, 5102, 4235, 7863, 6430,
5253, 6479, 5796, UPY 1467, 1388, 1376 *** CSXT 468 *** BNSF 5319, 888n
(ex-SF), 4529 *** NS 2688.
NS 8102 PENNSY HERITAGE OTHER
TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, JULY 1, 2014
- Tuesday, July 1, 2014 at Union Station Little Rock. NS 8102, the
Pennsylvania heritage loco, made a return trip to Little Rock on a
northbound oil train, its' 3rd trip through here in a little over a
month, all on oil trains. The train it was on today was the OSNES-29.
It had also come through here on BNSF oil trains on May 27 and June 14
this year. Also today I have a picture of a Southwest Airlines jet
overhead, SMIX 9512 old Santa Fe box or woodchip car built 3-79 then
re-built 12-11, and MP 23581 hopper with the MoPac Eagle. Locomotives
today: UP 7993, 7390, 9263, 5089, 4382, 4763, 9404, 5758, 7678, 6387-ex
SP, 7945, 7415 *** BNSF 8794, 6287, 4179, 7405 *** NS 8102
JULY 4, 2014 PHOTOS LITLE ROCK
INCLUDING PILLSBURY HOPPER
- Here's some Fourth of July 2014 trains in Little Rock and North
Little Rock, Arkansas. Very rare freight cars today including BAEX 212
Diamond Crystal/Halite Salt Crystals boxcar built 11-68, SOO 125025
blue Pillsbury hopper, and GAMX ex-Missouri Pacific gondola built way
back in 6-67 with explanation of how car was certified to stay active.
Also today, blue tank cars, Green pipe loads, lots of auto frames, BRCX
1070 Bunge Corp tank car, GTW 384516 Grand Trunk Western boxcar "The
Good Track Road", SOO line hopper. Locomotives today: NS 2743, 3335,
7684, 7599 *** UP 4452, 3108, 3732, 5755, 4573, 3883, 8659,7471, 1814
*** KCS 4517 *** Unknown 6548 ex-UP *** GMTX 2673.
JUST A FEW TRAINS LITTLE ROCK
JULY 5, 2014
- Just a few trains today, Saturday July 5, 2014, passing the station
at Little Rock, AR including locomotives having 5 different roadnames.
Also, MSRC 24681 The Bay Line green centerbeam, GATX 215668 new tank
car built this month 7/14, and KCS 151033 blue boxcar, Interstate
Asphalt tank cars. Locomotives today: CN 8891, 5701 *** UP 8481, 4683,
7372, 864, 4539, 4195, 8579, 7505, 1823 *** NS 9568 *** TFM 1656 ***
KCS 4604.
UP 2010 BOY SCOUTS, WALKING DOGS
AND TRAINS LITTLE ROCK JULY 6, 2014
- Sunday, July 6, 2014 at Little Rock. Included today is UP 2010, the
Boy Scouts special locomotive, plus my usual variety of trains and
freight cars. There were 6 different road names today including UP, CN,
GMTX, BNSF, CSXT and NS. Also, MKT green hoppers 535 and 588, WERX 6057
hopper that was spilling some sand (the train had been stopped to check
on it), CEFX 2311 blue tank car, BNSF 534031 BN green coil car,
flowers, two playful dogs someone was walking down the Amtrak platform,
and DGNO 460 blue gondola. Locomotives: UP 2010, 8506, 3513, 2003
(former SSW), 5098, 4489, 5647, 6872, 7443, 5571, 4400, 3810, 5750,
5023, 6259 (ex SP), 4779, 4398, UPY 1482, UPY 672 *** GMTX 2248, 2155,
2116 *** CN 2234 *** BNSF 9647, 9924, 6871 *** CSXT 457, 5392, 7597 **
NS 6753, 9928, 8946.
COTTON BELT BLUE LOGO ON A HOPPER
JULY 9, 2014
- I remember seeing this hopper, SSW 70094 with the blue Cotton Belt
logo, years ago. Was this the only one with the blue logo? This photo
was taken today, July 9, 2014, at North Little Rock, AR.
RARE SOUTHERN PACIFIC TANK
CAR=OTHER TRAINS=LITTLE ROCK JULY 12, 2014
- Trains in Little Rock and North Little Rock, Arkansas Saturday, July
12, 2014 plus a couple on July 8 ans 11. There were locomotives with 8
different roadnames including blue IC 2459 (which has CN on the side)
and CEFX 3142. Also, a rare SP tank car with Southern Pacific lettering
on the side- SP 6773365, DGRW 10855 faded Rio Grande hopper, TTGX
965375 BNSF autorack originally built 5-74 but rebuilt and repainted in
5-14, ALM 9693 Ashley Drew & Northern boxcar, Amtrak Texas
Eagle 22
at Union Station on July 11, MKT 545 green hopper, Arkansas Children's
Hospital helicopter overhead, CSXT 161826 Family Lines-SCL/LN boxcar
with "Georgia-Clinchfield West Point Route" on the side and WRWK 68157
Ferro Sur autorack. Plus a sunrise this morning over tracks and a
couple of photos of the Cathedral Apartments which are located in an
abandoned Greek Orthodox church in downtown Little Rock.
Locomotives
today: UP 8667, 7375, 5278, 8166, 1327, 9225, 7903, 5175, 9266, 9215,
4600, 4938, 8820, 8007, 7214, 8430, 4031, 5751, 4449, 7796, 1754, 7635,
2225, 1754, 9399, 7379. 3410 **** CN 2255 *** BNSF 8975 *** NS 9455,
9112 *** AMT 168 *** CEFX 3142 *** IC 2459 blue *** CSXT 7616, 225,
7375.
LOTS OF TRAIN LITTLE
ROCK JULY 14, 2014
- Monday, July 14, 2014 at the station in Little Rock, AR. I saw one
very colorful locomotive consist on one train with UP, CN, CSXT and CP
engines, plus a lot of hycube boxcars and other interesting freight
cars. There were 5 locomotive roadnames today. Some of the freight cars
included DUPX 8703 DuPont TL.PURE tank car, CNA 798010 CN hycube
boxcar, CNW 490899 yellow CNW hopper, GTW 30588 CN hycube, CNW 171693
hopper with the "Employee-Owned" logo. Rain moved in late in the day
and I got a mad, wet bird, plus some dark clouds shaped like fingers
and one had a nose and lips (in my imagination). Plus tons of other
freight cars I thought were interesting. Locomotives today: CN 2542 ***
CSXT 7695 *** CP 8777 *** BNSF 8075, 5727, 7570 *** UP 6337, 7321
(shiny, clean), 800 (not so clean), 687, 1395, 1773, 3876, 1395, 3824,
3938, 4573, 5302, 6021, 6534, 5153, 7753, 8453, 4664, 4698, 4096, 4348,
6055, 7230, 7285, 8509, 8840, 6935, 1781, 9794, 1844, 1778, 8724, 5661,
7918, 8131, 9619, 9630,9755, 6337.
NS 8102 AND OTHER TRAINS LITTLE
ROCK JULY 18, 2014
- Here's NS 8102, the Pennsylvania heritage, passing Union Station
Little Rock, AR today, Friday July 18, 2014 on an empty northbound oil
train, the OSNES-17 from St James, Louisiana. This has been the 4th
time through here on an oil trains in less than 2 months, the first
time was May 27 (then June 14, July 1 and today July 18). I caught it
on the opposite side of the tracks today, taken from the north side. I
also included one photo of UP 6721, the former CNW Operation Lifesaver
unit, which was a dpu on an empty coal train today. Plus a
couple
more trains including the Little Rock & Western and an ex-CNW
Operation Lifesaver unit. Plus 2 former Ashley Drew & Northern
boxcars with trademark painted over.
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE 22 LEAVING
LITTLE ROCK JULY 20, 2014 WITH UP 4244 IN LEAD
- On Sunday morning, July 20, 2014, Amtrak No. 22, the northbound Texas
Eagle, left Little Rock at 3:35 a.m. with UP 4244 in the lead. It had
been placed on the train in Texarkana due to one of the Amtrak
locomotives failing. This made the train 4 hours late into Little
Rock-it had arrived in Texarkana on time.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS TAKEN ACROSS
TRACKS FROM UNION STATION JULY20, 2014
- Sunday, July 20, 2014 across the tracks on the hill from Union
Station in Little Rock, AR to get a different perspective. Included is
a couple of shots taken on July 19. I saw a special TILX hopper, one
that had large 75 numbers on the side and said "EmpyReal 75
Dependability Pure". Also, CSXT 491006 gondola, MP 642028 red gondola
with the MoPac Buzzsaw logo in great condition, WC 54096 Wisconsin
Central gondola. Locomotives today: UP 4217, UP 3042 ex-CNW, 4741,
4037, 4888, 3952, 4064, 9359, 5189, 4245, 4186, 8381, 6389 ex-SP, 7660,
8169, 6021, 5302 *** FXE 4082, 4659 *** NS 7526
NORTH LOUISIANA &
ARKANSAS LOCOMOTIVE NLA 22, JULY 21, 2014
- North Louisiana & Arkansas locomotive NLA 22 in North Little
Rock, AR July 21, 2014. The North Louisiana & Arkansas Railroad
operates over 62 miles of line from McGehee, AR to Lake Providence, LA,
formerly known as the Delta Southern Railroad. Twenty four miles of the
NLA are owned by the short line and 41 miles are leased by the short
line from the Lake Providence Port Authority Commission and Southeast
Arkansas Economic Development District. For more information on the
NLA, click on: https://www.uprr.com/customers/shortline/lines/nla.shtml
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE 22 LITTLE ROCK
JULY 22, 2014
- Amtrak Texas Eagle No. 22 at Union Station in Little Rock, AR on
Tuesday night, July 22, 2014. The Eagle was about 10 minutes
early and left on time. I also caught the BNSF local and a
one-NS-engine move.
UP 1983-WESTERN PACIFIC
HERITAGE-WITH BURN MARKS JULY 28, 2014
- UP train MNPNL-26 crossing the Pershing Avenue overpass in North
Little Rock, Arkansas at 12:41 p.m. Monday July 28, 2014 on its way to
Union Pacific's North Little Rock yards. UP 1983 has fire damage on one
side and none on the other side. 1983 will be getting an
SD70ACe
overhaul at UP's Jenks Shops in North Little Rock.
UP 1982 IN FORTH WORTH, TEXAS
TWICE ON JULY 31, 2014
- I was in Fort Worth, Texas on Thursday, July 31, 2014 and my friend
Jerry and I railfanned part of the day and caught UP 1982, the Missouri
Pacific Heritage locomotive, accidently in two places, one near Tower
55 about 4 p.m. and later as we were driving back to Jerry's home we
caught 1982 again at 6 p.m., this time on a BNSF freight in the Forest
Hill area of Fort Worth, at the Hartman Drive and Bisbee Road
intersection. Timing was perfect as we turned left at the crossing and
paced the train down Bisbee Road. Unfortunately, as I was holding the
camera out the passenger-side window moving a train speed, a yellow
jacket hit my arm and I got stung. Since I'm not allergic to yellow
jacket bites, the swelling went down in about 2 hours, BUT I got my
shot. Has BNSF captured 1982 temporarily? I've heard it's been on the
BNSF awhile.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS AUGUST 3, 2014
INCLUDING UP 1983
- Sunday, August 3, 2014 at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas. I
saw some clean and shiny UP locomotives. Also saw a bright green BN
hopper on a BNSF trackage rights train, BN 459142 and DUPX 80225
TI-PURE white tank car, ICG 680128 orange hycube, GTW 305898 Grand
Trunk Western hycube. Locomotives today: UP 7810, 4619, 1793, 1844,
1778, 9794, 7883, 9398, 1983, 1865, 1781 *** BNSF 7464, 6683, 4715 ***
CSXT 259.
I noticed on some of the BNSF rights trains,
that there is much less graffiti on their freight cars. That's good to
see since I'd much rather have an old freight car without graffiti than
with it, but I realize that's almost impossible these days and will
still take the photo of the old car regardless if it has graffiti or
not. I used to take graffiti photos years ago just for the graffiti but
no longer do that routinely unless the graffiti (crime art)
is
excellent. Most graffiti I see now is sorta boring.
5-HOUR LATE TEXAS EAGLE LITTLE
ROCK AUGUST 4, 2014
- On Monday morning, August 4, 2014, the southbound Texas Eagle, Amtrak
21, was almost 5 hours late getting to Little Rock, Arkansas. Reason?
Another engine failure, this time it was BOTH locomotives that failed
just as the train was leaving Chicago Sunday afternoon. That delayed
Chicago departure by 5 hours, so instead of getting to Little Rock at
3:02 a.m., it got here shortly before 8 a.m. Here are a few pictures of
it arriving, taken from under the Locust Street overpass as it was
exiting the main Union Pacific yards in North Little Rock at 7:52 a.m,
and as it was departing Union Station Little Rock at 8:10 a.m. (I got
caught in rush hour traffic, so it took me 18 minutes to go the couple
of miles to the station.)
TOWER 55 CONSTRUCTION FORT WORTH,
TEXAS JYLY 31, 2014
- Tower 55, a major railroad intersection in Fort Worth, Texas, was
undergoing a significant upgrade in the summer of 2014. These photos
were taken on July 31, 2014 as I was visiting a friend who works at the
Intermodal Transportation Center. He's a volunteer for Amtrak and helps
handle/direct all the passengers. We had permission to be here. The
work is supposed to be finished by September 3. At least that's when
Amtrak's Texas Eagles are supposed stop terminating in Fort Worth and
continue along their normal route to San Antonio. Right now they can't
get through the Tower 55 construction.. I'm not an expert on Tower 55
and all the construction, so anyone in Fort Worth that has more
information, contact me at the addresses at the end of this webpage and
I'll update my information. Thanks. -Ken Ziegenbein, alias
ArkansasRailroader
NS 8102 PENNSYLVANIA HERITAGE
LITTLE ROCK AUGUST 8, 2014
- NS 8102, the Pennsylvania heritage, passed Little Rock's Union
Station at 11:32 a.m. today, August 8, 2014, northbound on BNSF oil
train OSNES-6. This is the 5th time NS 8102 has been here this year,
all on the same oil train.
24 TRAINS SUNDAY MORNING IN LITTLE
ROCK, AUGUST 10, 2014
- Sunday, August 10, 2014 at Little Rock was a busy day for trains. I
caught 24 trains between 4 a.m. and 11 a.m., which included locomotives
with 10 different roadnames. There was one detour coal train from Texas
and a steady stream of other trains, including Amtrak's southbound
Texas Eagle at 5 a.m. One train had two Citirail locomotives, CREX 1407
and 1410. Roadnames today: BNSF, CP, UP, AMTRAK, CN, GMTX,
TFM,
CREX, KCS AND CSXT. Interesting freight cars included a red Canadian
Pacific Railway gondola CP 355100, green UP 809944 water tank car, LYBX
4086 tank car with a yellow dome. Plus a large, full Moon on a close
orbit of Earth, and a dog walking the tracks.
Locomotives:
BNSF 5294, 4378, 6611 *** CP 8794 *** UP 4136, 4821, 4667, 4500, 9359,
4220, 5172, 5888, 2191, 7170, 3491, 6444, 3831, 7680, 9109, 5340, 2362,
9696 ex-CNW, 8449, 4298, 7417, 7466, 6760, 8622, 4831, 5029, 6209
ex-SP, 6733, 6240 ex-SP, 6369 ex-SP, 6795, 9397, 9426, 6942, 4609,
4539, 4208, 1781, 1865, 1856, 2003 ex-SSW, 4888, 8133, 5615,
7188, 6656, 6412, 5964, 5066, 5873, 7801 *** AMTRAK 179 *** CN 2331,
2277 *** GMTX 2623, 2248, 2261 *** KCS 4168 *** TFM 1654 *** CREX 1407,
1410 *** CSXT unknown since it was hidden by another train passing.
IC 2457-GREEN/YELLOW MKT
HOPPER-RED MKT GONDOLAS-TRAINS LITTLE ROCK AUGUST 16, 2014
- Saturday, August 16, 2014 at Union Station in Little Rock. It was a
sunny day and a steady stream of trains. Six roadnames today: BNSF,
HLCX, NS, FXE, IC/CN and UP. Also, Central Arkansas Transit streetcars
in Little Rock, a dove on a wire, new tankcars built 7-14, Two MKT red
gondolas 1617 and 16398, DISX 3381 Wisconsin and Southern hopper, and
GLC 4142 ex MKT short green hopper with large yellow MKT on side.
Locomotives: FXE 4668 *** NS 6627 *** HLCX 3859 *** BNSF 8168, 4147 ***
UP 9263, 9175, 8078, 4305, 1793, 1844, 8630, 6032, 6801, 1778, 7255,
7174, 4543, 6839, 7132 *** IC 2457 blue ex-CN.
TRANS AND A LATE AMTRAK 21 LITTLE
ROCK-TRIBUTE TO CREWMEN KILLED IN HEAD-ON COLLISION AT HOXIE AT 230 A.M.
- Sunday, August 17, 2014 was a sad day for Union Pacific and local
railfans. At 3 that morning two UP freights collided head-on about a
mile south of Hoxie, Arkansas, killing two crewmen and injuring two
more. Hoxie is about 2 hours north of Little Rock. The names of the
crewmen who died were Engineer Chance Gober and Conductor Broderick
Hayes. Their train was going south from East St Louis to
North
Little Rock. The two injured crewmen were Aaron Jeffery and Michael
Zompakos.Their train was going north from North Little Rock to East St
Louis.
Here are my regular Sunday, August 17,
2014 train pictures from Union Station in Little Rock. There
were
plenty of trains as usual with locomotive roadnames from 7 different
lines: UP, NS, CN, FXE, BNSF, KCS, and Amtrak. Amtrak's southbound
Texas Eagle No. 21 was behind the UP southbound freight near Hoxie when
the freight collided with the northbound train around 3 a.m.
The
Eagle had to reverse course, move its locomotives around the train and
take the passenger train back to Poplar Bluff, Missouri, where it
eventually detoured southbound on the old Cotton Belt through Dexter,
MO, Jonesboro AR, Wynne, Fair Oaks, then getting on its regular tracks
again at Bald Knob, AR. This made No.21 arrive in Little Rock 16 hours
late, at 7:15 p.m. instead of the normal time of 3:10 a.m. I have
photos of it getting to Little Rock on this webpage.
Also on this webpage: A hawk and bird, railfans at Union
Station,
black-red berries, HS 7625 ex-East Camden & Highland boxcar,
Ashley
Drew & Northern boxcar ADN ??29, MKT 597 green hopper, dark
storm
clouds.Locomotives today: UP 8011, 3814, 7961, 6397, 9195, 7925, 5878,
6745, 8860, 6167-exSP, 8608, 7494, 2047-exSP, 1929, 8433, 3840, 1793,
1844,4531, 4746, 4951, 4467, 4612, UPY 672, 7493. 4331, 5136, 5618,
5891,8614, 7713, 7794 *** NS 8324, 6802, 8781, 9219, 7612, 6788 *** CN
2655 *** FXE 4084 *** BNSF 5113, 7850, 731-ex Santa Fe Warbonnet, 5140,
7519 *** KCS 4158 *** Amtrak 64
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS AUGUST 28 AND
29, 2014
- Two days of trains at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas on
Thursday August 28 and Friday August 29, 2014. I missed the
7th
appearance of NS 8102 Pennsylvania heritage on a northbound BNSF oil
train by 10 minutes, but I had a more important personal activity to
attend. NS 8102 passed Union Station at 1:44 p..m.., the second of 3
units. Five roadnames today, UP, CSXT, GMTX, BNSF and NS.
Also I
saw CNW yellow, blue, white and green hoppers, KWT 7004 Tamora
Staplehurst Co-Op Co, Tamora, Nebraska hopper.
UP 1983,
the Western Pacific heritage locomotive, has been in Jenks Shops in
North Little Rock for overhaul due to fire causing burn marks
that occurred in July. It has a new engine and has been load tested.
However, it is waiting to be re-painted, probably the week of September
1. From what I've been told, it will retain the WP heritage paint
scheme.
Locomotives today: UP 4277, 4104, 6922, 5282,
6755, 8541, 4192, 5859, 8036, 6009, 5576, 7342, 8877, 7591, 9535, 7304,
5310, 6267, 8592, 6289-exSP, 3991, 2262, 3991, 1848, 5341, 4729, 1793,
1877, 1784, 5389, 5133, 9244, 1925, 4801, 0308, 7821, 9357 **** NS
2573, 9032, 9677, 6922, 9573 **** BNSF 9295, 8259, 9198, 6333 **** CSXT
9023, 8716, 5447 **** GMTX 2673, 2251.
GENSETS AND OTHER TRAINS LITTLE
ROCK AUGUST 30, 2014
- In Little Rock today, Saturday August 30, 2014: Two UPY Gensets UPY
2662 and 2663, plus my usual mix of trains, roadnames and freight cars.
Roadnames today UP, NS, BNSF, CSXT, KCS, CEFX, FXE. Also today, MKT 522
green hopper, load of green pipes, MLLX 26212 "Robert W Granatelli" (is
this graffiti?) tank car, Streetcar 408 on Markham Street,
CSX
158559 beautiful, shiny, dark blue repainted boxcar, originally built
in August 1974. Locomotives today: UPY 2662, 2663 **** UP 9193, 1929,
2047-exSP, 8623, 5869, 5923, 4635, 8609, 6225-exSP, 6903, 5689, 9213,
1778, 1844, 1872, 6305, 7872, 6368, 5293, 4993 **** NS 6632, 9397,
8936, 8912 **** BNSF 4450 **** CSXT 923, 7546 **** KCS 4587 **** CEFX
3129 **** FXE 4688.
LATE TEXAS EAGLE 21 LITTLE ROCK
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 6, 2014-Southbound
Amtrak Texas Eagle 21 arrived at Union Station in Little Rock 5 hours
and 42 minutes late on Saturday, September 6, 2014. I think there was
some delay in Illinois due to weather and in central Arkansas due to
congestion. It sat in the North Little Rock yard for at least 45
minutes. Here are some daylight photos of the Eagle, which is scheduled
to arrive around 3 a.m. but today arrived at 8:42 a.m. The Eagle is
back to one locomotive, today's was Amtrak No. 50.
UP 1900 EX-RIO GRANDE OTHER
TRAINS LITTLE ROCK SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
- Saturday, September 6, 2014 at Union Station Little Rock, Arkansas.
Saw UP 1900 here again, the Rio Grande locomotive in really good shape.
Five roadnames today, UP, NS, CSXT, GMTX and Amtrak. Also, AEX 386
vivid blue boxcar, old Chessie System hopper AEX 574, silver pipes, MP
26640 C&EI boxcar, yellow/black bumblebee in a
flower.Locomotives
today: UP 7014, 7060, 7391, 5329, 8420, 7294, 2003-exCotton Belt, 6371,
8616, 7734, 3889, 8733, 1900-exRio Grande, Amtrak 50.
FOUR TRAINS AT ONE TIME UNION
STATION LITTLE ROCK SEPTEMBER 9, 2014
- There are 4 tracks in front of Union Station in Little Rock. From the
closest to the station to the one furtherest out: Amtrak siding, UP
Main 2, UP Main 1 and the LRWN track. Today I saw all four
tracks
occupied with active trains at the same time and got photos. I've seen
3 at a time before, but personally I've never seen all 4 tracks full.
There were 5 roadnames today: UP, KCS, FXE, GMTX and LRWN. KCS was
represented by both a Belle color and grey color. Also today, 2 Rio
Grande hoppers, MKT 544 green hopper, and several truck/auto frames on
flatcars. Locomotives today: UP 5570, 6955, 8346, 4525, 2003-ssw, 7112,
8675, 7196, 8369, 8552, 8619 **** KCS 4044, 3944, 3935 **** FXE 4088
**** LRWN 500, 2017 **** GMTX 2261
WINDY, COOL TRAINS LITTLE ROCK
SEPTEMBER 13, 2014
- A breezy, chilly day at Little Rock's Union Station on Saturday,
September 13, 2014 with cloudy skies and temperature at 11 a.m. 58
degrees. I caught 5 trains before I had to leave, including locomotives
from UP and NS. There was a middle school football game at the school
across the tracks, which added to the Fall-feeling of the day. I also
saw a pigeon on the tracks, Southern 531263 boxcar, KRL 340323 heavy
hauler with a transformer, and MKT 572 green short hopper. Locomotives
today: UP 5743, 7388, 7692, 8594, 1844, 1878, 1781, 800, 4153, 9647,
8757, 5188, 8186, 9501, 2484 **** NS 8770, 9240
BEAUTIFUL, SUNNY DAY WITH 6
ROADNAMES ON TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, SEPTEMBER 14, 2014
- Sunday, September 14, 2014 was a beautiful mostly sunny day with lots
of trains passing Union Station at Little Rock, Arkansas. It started
out in the upper 50s but warmed into the 70s by early afternoon. Six
roadnames today: UP, GMTX, CSXT, CP, CREX and NS. Also today: Three MKT
red gondolas, 6478, 6468 and 16293, one MKT green gondola 16513, CNW
745013 green gon, SOO 74598 green-lettered SOO LINES hopper, UP 35598
yellow boxcar, SP 465866 short hopper, lots of contrails and
cirrus clouds overhead. Locomotives: NS 8326, 9779 **** CREX 1314
Citirail **** CP 8781 **** CSXT 8562 **** GMTX 2249, 2137, 2615 **** UP
8452, 4063, 4492, 5485, 2947-exSP, 1929, 4436, 9204, 5803, 4461, 5908,
9688, 5599, 6477, 5490, 4752, 6264, 2225, 4368, 3812, 6792, 3922, 4513,
1880, 5092, 4497, 3853.
NS 6963 GORAIL LOCOMOTIVE NORTH
LITTLE ROCK, AR SEPTEMBER 18, 2014
- NS 6963, the GoRail black and green NS locomotive, in North Little
Rock, AR on Thursday September 18, 2014 around 10 p.m. I also included
a shot of this locomotive by Jamie Swain and a video by Anthony Holmes,
both taken earlier in the evening, used with their
permission.
A
little history of this unit from the NS site: On May 12, 2014
GoRail and Norfolk Southern announced the unveiling of its
one-of-a-kind GoRail locomotive today to commemorate the 10th
anniversary of GoRail, a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated
to educating the public about the benefits of moving more freight by
rail. Founded in 2004, GoRail mobilizes support for policies that would
lead to more freight moving by rail and opposition to policies that
would limit the freight railroads’ ability to meet growing freight
demand. The GoRail locomotive will enter into regular freight service
on Norfolk Southern’s system.
UP FAMILY DAYS SHERWOOD FOREST,
SHERWOOD AR SEPTEMBER 20, 2014
- Union Pacific's annual Family Days was held on Saturday, September
20, 2014 at Sherwood Forest in Sherwood, Arkansas from 10 a.m. to 6
p.m. Here are lots of photos. I tried to get as many events and people
as possible. I reduced the size of the photos for this webpage so the
hundreds of photos will download much faster. But you can click on any
individual photo to get the full, high resolution photo (each one 3 to
5 MB in size). Once the larger file loads, you can save it to
your computer or print them.
I've never been to a
Family Days event before since I don't work for UP, but it really felt
like it was a family event with everyone there having a connection with
the larger extended Union Pacific family, regardless of their personal
background in life. All had something in common. It was nice
seeing the thousands of people enjoying themselves and to see the
children playing together. The local UP people who put this event
together are top notch.
UP 4141 BUSH LOCO BACK
IN FRONT OF JENKS SHOPS N LITTLE ROCK SEP 25, 2014
- UP 4141-Bush Locomotive-back in front of Jenks Shops in North Little
Rock. AR with a new, fresh, UN-TORN tarp on it. I happened to be there
when they pushed it out to its' usual resting place at 11:15 a.m.
Thursday, September 25, 2014. It's been at this spot off and on since
2009. In the second photo, you can see the tractor that pushed it out
on the left side of the photo. Jenks Shops sits right across the
Arkansas River from Little Rock, which can be seen in the background.
4141 is ready to run, having just been load tested a couple of days
ago.
UP 2001 OTHER TRAINS LITTLE ROCK,
SEPTEMBER 21 AND 27, 2014-Trains
passing Union Station in Little Rock on Saturday, September 27, 2014
plus a few trains from Sunday, September 21. Included is UP 2001, one
of the Olympic Relay locomotives, UP 1878 ex-UP 3300 United Way, track
welders, SP 516164 autorack without side panels, EEC 1806 Mississippi
Export Railroad boxcar, family walking dog after dark on Sep 21,
Central Arkansas Street 412 on Markham Street, KCS 720142 Belle-colored
coil car, GNAX 9282 Apasco hopper, MKT 535 green hopper. Plus a couple
of my usual blue tank cars. Five different roadnames on locomotives
today, UP, BNSF, CSXT, NLA, and NS.
Locomotives: UP 4754, 1793,
1879, 8212, 8559, 9797, 9654, 4462, 4369, 7617, 6846, 6577, 2001,
1878-ex UP 3300 **** NS 9467, 6756, 8845 **** NLA 22 **** CSXT 145 ****
BNSF 993, 5489, 5960.
WASP, SOUTHWEST AIRLINES AND
TRAINS LITTLE ROCK SEPTEMBER 28, 2014
- Sunday, September 28, 2014 at Union Station in Little Rock. I didn't
get to the station until the afternoon, but managed to get a few trains
anyway. Included today is my usual blue and green tank cars, closeup of
a wasp and Southwest Airline plane overhead, and a couple of
'fallen flag' freight cars. There were locomotives having 3 different
roadnames, UP, BNSF and CSXT. Locomotives: UP 5659, 4384, 6695, 4896,
7039, 6316, 4632, 6598, 6167-ex SP, 7260, 4132, 9272 **** BNSF 8005
**** CSXT 758 no lightning symbol.
RED FLAG TEST AND TRAINS LITTLE
ROCK OCTOBER 4 AND 5, 2014
- Little Rock trains Saturday, October 4 and Sunday, October 5, 2014
including a Red Flag procedure on Sunday. Five roadnames including UP,
GMTX, HLCX, NS and IC. Also, DFI Detroit, Toledo & Ironton
Railroad
hycube, CRW 10855 ex-Rio Grande hopper, my usual blue tank cars, SSW
70098 Cotton Belt hopper with the blue Cotton Belt emblem, American
Airlines jet overhead, 8 locomotives heading one train and a hawk
eating a pigeon, taken from a streetcar. Locomotives: UP 8872, 9182,
7496, 6599, 9256, 1893, 1781, 1844, 8661, 8548, 5522, 1386, 9599, 6816,
4106, 4589, 5089, 4094, 9426, 673, 8193, 2162, 9572, 4523, 5567, 4238,
7001 **** NS 9544, 9243, 2659 **** GMTX 2249 **** HLCX 3892 **** IC 1029
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE LITTLE ROCK 20
MINUTES EARLY OCT 7, 2014
- I hadn't been at the Amtrak station in Little Rock at night for a few
weeks so I decided tonight, Tuesday October 7, 2014 was the
time
to go and get some night shots of the northbound Texas Eagle, Train 22.
This train has been running mostly on time all summer and Fall so far,
and tonight it stopped at the station 20 minutes early at 11:10 p.m. I
also got two freights. I also included my photo of a toad, which I
found in my garage yesterday and a full Moon tonight (there will also
be a total Lunar eclipse later tonight) .
UP 1983 WESTERN PACIFIC HERITAGE
AT JENKS NORTH LITTLE ROCK OCT 10. 2014
- UP 1983 Western Pacific update, October 10, 2014. It's still at UP's
Jenks Shops in North Little Rock, waiting to get repainted into WP
Heritage colors as soon as all the decals arrive. Otherwise, it's ready
to run. For these photos, I was taken to the paint shop at Jenks by a
UP official and had ear plugs, helmet, protective glasses, and was
wearing boots. Hopefully this locomotive will be back on the road in a
couple of weeks after the decals arrive. I understand they will
sandblast it and repaint the whole thing.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS SATURDAY
OCTOBER 11, 2014
- Here's some trains at the station in Little Rock on Saturday, October
11, 2014. Included today: 3 locomotive roadnames, UP, NS and KCS. Also,
MKT 16479 red gondola, SP 323227 gondola, Illinois Cereal Mills, Inc
hopper, BNSF 409321 hopper, long string of vehicle frames, HOT 3257
placard, CSXT 180891 Chessie hycube, MP 265015 boxcar with good MoPac
buzzsaw. Locomotives: UP 3829, 9145, 1497, 606, 1623, 8599, 6197 ex-SP,
8395, 8798, 8130, 8406, 8890, 6422, 7248, 7093, 8074, 9173 **** NS 9494
**** KCS 4158.
TRAINS IN LITTLE ROCK OCTOBER 12,
2014
- Sunday, October 12, 2014 at Union Station Little Rock. It was a cool,
drizzly morning but turned out to be a nice, overcast day. There were 4
roadnames today (UP, NS, FXE and GMTX) and my usual assortment of
fallen flag old freight cars. Included today: DJTX 96003 green AGP
hopper, MKT 535 and 515 green hoppers, DGRW 30181 old, long
D&RGW
gondola, CNW 340338 green gondola, UP work train. Locomotives: UP 7148,
7053, 5569, 1892, 1781, 6525, 6208 ex-SP, 8430, 2047 ex-SP, 1386, 7914,
4242, 6554 **** GMTX 2249 **** NS 9094 **** FXE 4646.
STREETCARS-CROWDS-BUTTERFLIES
LITTLE ROCK, OCTOBER 17-18, 2014
- Friday and Saturday, October 17 and 18, 2014 streetcars and crowds in
Little Rock and North Little Rock with fans here for the October 18
football game between the Arkansas Razorbacks and Georgia Bulldogs.
There was also a concert at Riverfront Park Friday night in the River
Market given by Justin Moore. And 'Five Finger Death Punch &
VolBeat' was at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock at the same time. I
took the streetcar to the events and will show scenes from those rides,
as well as some shots of butterflies and flowers. This will
give
you an idea what it's like in Little Rock's River Market on some
days. Click this link for some photos:
BLUE SKIES AND LITTLE ROCK
TRAINS, OCTOBER 19, 2014
- Sunday, October 19, 2014 at Union Station in Little Rock, AR. It was
a beautiful day, chilly in the morning, 70s in the afternoon. There
were 6 locomotive roadnames today: UP, NS, CN, CSXT, FXE and CP. Also
have shots of a Fall red leaf, wasp, butterfly, CIRR 91274 ex-blue Rock
Island boxcar, ICG 535578 boxcar, and a streetcar plus other freight
cars. Locomotives: UP 1988, 5729, 6178 ex-SP, 1781, 1904, 9673, 4140,
4883, 3947, 8393, 3829, 6398 ex-SP. Former President Bill Clinton and
other politicians had a rally in downtown North Little Rock in the
historic Argenta District with their podium set up in the middle of the
streetcar tracks so the streetcars were relagated to the Little Rock
side of the Arkansas River for a few hours. The streetcar people wanted
me to get pictures of the event, so I took a break from railfanning to
get a couple of photos of that area.
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE 22 LITTLE ROCK
OCTOBER 25, 2014 -
Amtrak northbound Texas Eagle Train No. 22 at
Union Station in
Little Rock, Arkansas on Saturday night, October 25, 2014 with Heritage
Locomotive No. 66 in the lead. It's been arriving 15 to 20 minutes
early in recent weeks, tonight arriving at 11:12 p.m. CDT. Here are
some scenes at the station, plus I caught a Central Arkansas Transit
Streetcar on it's last run of the day around midnight. The Little Rock
Amtrak station currently has only one agent, who works 7 nights a week
from 10:30 pm to 8 a.m. There's usually 2 agents here, one to
to work
half of those nights, but Amtrak still hasn't filled the second Agent
position after 5 months.
I also included a couple of shots of hot air balloons being filled at
night on October 24 at MacArthur Park in Little Rock.
NS 8102 PENNSY LOCO OTHER TRAINS
LITTLE ROCK OCT 26 2014
- Sunday, October 26, 2014 at Little Rock's Union Station, including NS
8102-Pennsylvania Heritage locomotive. There were 5 different roadnames
today: UP, NS, GMTX, CEFX and CN. Also PAL 701400 Texas Mexican boxcar,
EAMX 7003 ex-Santa Fe hopper, MKT 558 green hopper, CNW 171696 blue
hopper, a hobo riding a centerbeam car plus 6 railfans lined up in a
photo line to catch NS 8102, the HS Pennsylvania heritage unit.
Locomotives today: UP 9201, 7624, 6219 ex-SP, 5853, 3994, 360, 8006,
1991, 8017, 8425, 4242, 4036 **** NS 8432, 2685, 8790, 8102-Pennsy ****
GMTX 2296, 2249 **** CEFX 1046 **** CN 2196.
MKT-KATY MEMORIES TEXAS
1950S-1980S
- MKT Railroad photos I've taken from the 1950s to 1980s. Most were
taken in Texas and Arkansas (the Arkansas sightings are of the lines of
MKT locomotives that came to Jenks Shops after the MKT and UP merged in
1988). Some are in black and white, some color. (Ken Ziegenbein photos
unless noted, thundertrain@gmail.com)
Included Katy locomotives and rolling stock:
1) 'Big Hook' MKT 1227
2) A couple of single-dome tank cars
3) F-unit locomotive 71-A
4)
Green-yellow striped locomotives (most in 'dead' line in North Little
Rock, June 1989): 360, 239, 219, 98, 92, 93, 122, 96, 108, 104, 121,
106, 94, 154, 100, 102, 111, 217, 119, 101, 91, 116, 110, 120, 107,
112, 109, 123, 192.
5) MKT green cabooses 132 and 205
6) Missouri Pacific 2000
A VAN BEING TOWED FOR BLOCKING A
LITTLE ROCK STREETCAR, OCTOBER 31, 2014
- A van was illegally parked over the white line next to the streetcar
tracks in the River Market District of Little Rock on Halloween night,
October 31, 2014. The van was blocking the streetcar so we couldn't
move. The van had to be towed away and since I was on the streetcar at
the time, here are some photos.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS NOVEMBER 1-2,
2014
- Trains passing Union Station in Little Rock on Saturday and Sunday,
November 1 and 2, 2014 with a couple in October, also. There were 7
locomotive roadnames including UP, NS, CORP, CSXT, SSW-unpatched, GMTX,
BNSF. Also, a half Moon, Fall leaves under a drain, new tank cars built
10-14, CW 5010 OSM-Oregon Steel Mills gondola, ANR 388 boxcar, HS 72134
ex-New Orleans Public Belt boxcar, BKTY 150246 GATX newly painted
boxcar, DRGW 25167 'Action Road' hopper, Sunset over tracks.
Locomotives today: CORP 2062, 2063, UPY 1376, UP 9442, 4905, 7507,
9539, 8002, 9639, 2047 ex-SP, 2003 ex-SSW **** NS 8028, 8773, 8865,
9337, 2611, 9131, 8387, 9136 **** CSXT 7631 **** SSW 9708 unpatched
**** GMTX 2296, 2249 **** BNSF 8837, 9337, 9096.
NS 1074 PLUS OTHER TRAINS LITTLE
ROCK NOVEMBER 8, 2014
- Saturday, November 8, 2014 at Union Station in Little Rock. Included
today was NS Heritage Lackawanna locomotive 1074. There were 8
roadnames on locomotives. Also, some Fall colors, an illegal rider
(hobo) on a flat car (called in to UP's 800 number), several CSXT
hycube boxcars with Chessie the sleeping cat on them, HS 3649 ex-Golden
Triangle Railroad boxcar, ATGX 1234 ex-Delaware & Hudson
hopper,
EAMX 7005 ex-Santa Fe hopper, UP 355229 old yellow boxcar, CNW 1755331
very faded hopper, GNWR 723 Lake Erie, Franklin & Clarion
boxcar,
MRL 21004 Rail Link boxcar, CSXT ex-C&O boxcar, sunset, Moon.
Locomotives today: UP 1996 (taken on Nov 6), 4446, 8198, 4882, 4685,
6269 exSP, 8519, 4373, 9640, 3850, 9113, 8327, 4863, 9340, 3853, 3960,
UPY 1383, UPY 1318, 3966, 8005, 4998 **** CSXT 8388 **** CP 8546 ****
KCS 4778, 3922 **** NS 1074, 8731, 9077 **** GMTX 2253 ****
HLC
8072, 8070 ex-BN **** BNSF 164 ex-Santa Fe blue and yellow, 2163.
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE 22 LITTLE
ROCK, AR NOVEMBER 10, 2014
- Amtrak Texas Eagle 22 northbound at Little Rock, Arkansas, 11:50 p.m.
Monday night, November 10, 2014. Apparently, the engine failed south of
St Louis, delaying it about 2 hours.
NS 1073 PENN CENTRAL AND OTHER
TRAINS LITTLE ROCK NOVEMBER 18, 2014
- NS 1073, the Penn Central heritage locomotive, passed Union Station
in Little Rock on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 on the QLINL-16,
originating in Livonia, Louisiana. This was the 8th NS
heritage
locomotive visiting us at the Little Rock station since 2012. In
addition to 1073, we had NS 8114-Original Norfolk Southern,NS 8025
Monongahela, NS 8102 Pennsylvania, NS 8100 Nickel Plate, NS 1071
Central of New Jersey, NS 8101 Central of Georgia and NS 1074
Lackawanna. Plus just a few other trains, including a Slot Machine
ballast train headed by NS 9113 running long hood forward.
\ UP 1983 WESTERN PACIFIC HERITAGE
REPAINTED INTO WP HERITAGE COLORS NOVEMBER 20, 2014
- UP 1983 has been entirely repainted at Jenks Shops in North
Little Rock in the Western Pacific heritage scheme, looks like new.
Photos taken November 20, 2014 and a few days earlier on the decals.
It's supposed to go the service tracks in the North Little Rock yards
soon then be on the road again. It took longer than expected because of
a delay in getting the Western Pacific official decals. Remember that
this is the loco that was burnt in an engine fire last summer. Even
though only one side was burnt, the paint shop at Jenks sandblasted and
repainted the entire locomotive. These photos were not taken by me, but
someone who wishes to remain anonymous but said I could share the
photos anywhere I wanted.
10TH ANNIVERSARY OF LITTLE ROCK
STREETCARS NOVEMBER 20, 2014
- Thursday, November 20, 2014 was the 10th anniversary of Central
Arkansas Transit's streetcar operation in Little Rock and North Little
Rock. The system averages 100,000 riders a year and there has been
millions of dollars in new development along the 3.5 mile line, such as
restaurants and apartment complexes. Here are some photos of the event.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS NOVEMBER 22,
2014 SUNDAY NOVEMBER 22, 2014
- At Union Station in Little Rock. I was only at
the
station 1 hour and 19 minutes, so I only caught 6 trains today. Of
interest, DGRW 25103 old Rio Grande hopper built 7-73, MWCX 200389 new
or repainted black gondola, DPRW 257567 new black tank cars with white
ends built this month 11-14. They look sharp in a line. Locomotives
today: NS 9241, 9077, 6597, 9335, 7503 *** UP 9203, 1907, 8067, 4852,
5683, 6508, 7293, 4216, 4382, 3960 *** FXE 4059 *** CSXT 7716.
RAINY TRAINS LITTLE ROCK
INCLUDING EX-SP MP15AC SWITCHER NOVEMBER 23, 2014
- Sunday, November 23, 2014 at Union Station in Little Rock,
Arkansas. I always like trains in the rain and today we had a
steady rain, but still the trains ran and here are the photos. Included
is 40-year old UPY 1434, former Southern Pacific 2705 MP15AC at North
Little Rock.
DELAYED AMTRAK EAGLE LITTLE ROCK,
NOVEMBER 26, 2014
- On Wednesday, November 26, 2014 - the day before Thanksgiving -
Amtrak 22 Texas Eagle arrived at Little Rock, Arkansas at 11:45 a.m.,
12 hours late, due to it hitting a Chevrolet Silverado truck at a
crossing at Bartlett, Texas, south of Temple (south of Fort Worth) the
day before. The truck burst into flames, killing the driver, and the
flames also damaged the Amtrak locomotive so badly that it wasn't safe
to operate (I think it was No. 62) . Nobody on the packed train was
hurt, and no reported crew injuries. There were 239 passengers on board
according to news reports. They were taken by school buses to Granger
High School where they were met and fed by the Red Cross and Salvation
Army, according to TV news reports.
Amtrak got
locomotive 56 off the Heartland Flyer (Forth Worth to Oklahoma City
train) and put it on the Texas Eagle. The Amtrak spare/protection
locomotive No. 11 in Fort Worth was used on the Heartland Flyer. This
all took about 12 hours, making the train 12-hours late. The delayed
train with locomotive 56 finally left Temple at 11:45 p.m. Tuesday
night and picked up the passengers from the train for the continued
journey to Chicago. It took exactly 12 hours to reach Little Rock from
Temple.
FOGGY STREETCAR NORTH LITTLE ROCK
AR DECEMBER 4, 2014
- Dense fog shrouded a streetcar in North Little Rock, Thursday
evening, December 4, 2014 as it passed through the Argenta
Entertainment District around 8:30 p.m. Streetcar 409 was also
decorated with Christmas lights and characters.
DAY AND EVENING TRAINS LITTLE
ROCK INCLUDING CAPITAL HOTEL CHRISTMAS TREE, DECEMBER 7, 2014
- Little Rock trains passing Union Station on Sunday, December 7, 2014,
day and evening. There were 3 locomotive roadnames today, UP, BNSF and
NS. Of interest is a transformer being hauled, MWCX 240416 new black
gondola, and a photo of the Capital Hotel's large Christmas tree.
Locomotives: UP 1912, 2017 ex-SP, 5125, 4639, 8732, 9692, 8806, 3805,
4043, 9182, 4104, 6742 **** BNSF 7234, 5133-burn mark, 4728, 7310,
4378, 8223 **** NS 9320
TRAINS AND AMTRAK LITTLE ROCK INCLUDING LRWN DECEMBER 9, 2014
- Trains at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas on Tuesday, December
9, 2014. After catching a few freights in the afternoon, including the
Little Rock & Western, I went back to the station around midnight
to get Amtrak's northbound Texas Eagle.
UP 1989-SUNSET-STREETCARS-TRAINS-LITTLE ROCK DECEMBER 13, 2014
- 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
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE 22 IN THE RAIN LITTLE ROCK DECEMBER 18. 2014
- Amtrak Texas Eagle No. 22 northbound in the rain around midnight at
Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas on Wednesday night/Thursday
morning December 17-18, 2014. Also included are a couple of UP
and BNSF freights. Temperature was 37 degrees.
TRAINS LITTLE ROCK INCLUDING GMTX 153 SWITCHER DECEMBER 18, 2014
- Union Station trains on Thursday, December 18, 2014. Included is GMTX
153 faded red locomotive, new Slot Machine cars built 11-14, CSX 224962
ex-Family Lines hopper, SRN 6547 ex-Corinth & Counce boxcar, CSX
178519 faded yellow hopper, MKT 580 green hopper. Locomotives: GMTX 153
*** UP 306, 2047 ex-SP, 7406, 6900, 9602, 4144 *** BNSF 6040, 4334,
7903 *** CN 2669
TRAINS, OLD FREIGHT CARS, LITTLE ROCK DECEMBER 20, 2014
- Saturday, December 20, 2014 trains at Union Station in Little Rock,
AR. Included today: Several new tank cars, CNW 520067 green
boxcar, SPSX 362979 'For Spreading" gondola, MP 642030 gondola with red
MoPac Buzzsaw, SP 328705 gondola with cover, MP 640877 gondola with
MoPac red Buzzsaw, UP 97029 yellow gondola with cover, GATX 22409
ex-Thiele tankcar Sandersville, Georgia, UP work train. Locomotives
today: UP 9482, 3508, 6017, 4644, 5002, 2328, 5074, 8690, 5222, 8138,
4027, 4546 **** NS 9709
TEXAS EAGLE 22 LITTLE ROCK PLUS JENKS SHOPS DECEMBER 23, 2014
- Amtrak Texas Eagle 22 at Little Rock, Arkansas Tuesday night,
December 23, 2014, 11:50 p.m. Good crowd of passengers tonight. I also
caught a couple of freights passing the Amtrak station (Union Station).
Then I took a quick trip to Union Pacific's Jenks Shops in North Little
Rock after midnight and got a photo of UP 6938 Centennial on display
and the tarped UP 4141 Bush unit. Earlier tonight there was a news
bulletin saying that former President George H. W. Bush, the Senior
Bush (President 41) was taken to a Houston, Texas hospital with
breathing problems. UP 4141 is the Bush Library locomotive and will
eventually be taken to Texas when needed by the Bush family and the
library. It was named for the senior Bush.
CHRISTMAS EVE AND DAY TRAINS LITTLE ROCK DEC 24-25, 2014
- Christmas Eve and Christmas Day trains, Little Rock, AR December 24
and 25, 2014. Included: Cardinal redbird at Union Station,
Arkansas Children's Hospital helicopter, Christmas sunset over the
tracks, Crescent Moon, several BN green hoppers, Capital Hotel's large
Christmas Tree, CRLE blue boxcars, CN 383379 hopper, MKT 549 green
hopper, GTW 1382 Grand Trunk Wester GT hopper, RACX 32250 rusty tank
car, December 1949 Missouri Pacific Lines Magazine Christmas cover.
Locomotives today: UP 8353, 3865, 9810, 7696, 7233, 7960, 5930, 6997
**** BNSF 6769, 5047, 9645-Executive colors **** AKMD-Arkansas Midland
414 *** CSXT 9071, 467, 4832, 3148 **** CN 8880
9 TRAINS IN 2 HOURS TODAY AT LITTLE ROCK, DECEMBER 27, 2014
- I caught 11 trains today, 9 of which passed Union Station in Little
Rock in a 2-hour period between 3:20 and 5:26 p.m. Areas of light rain
fell throughout the day with a 20 mph wind and temperatures in the
upper 40s. One long train had 9 locomotives on it (not all running, of
course). Also, more blue tank cars, UTLX 651190 blue and white tank
car, DKLX 1154 new tank car built 12-14, a few red and white Herzog
hoppers. Locomotives today: UP 9798 ex-CNW, 9795, 4394, 7460, 5088,
9288, 7611, 6164 ex-SP, 5803, 7053, 3898, 7103, 5066, 3563, 4656, 9101,
6069, 5916, 2360, 3123, 5081, 4455, 9797, 6155, 6363, 3855 **** CN 5800
**** NS 9960, 6938.
2015
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE 22 WITH ENIGNE 156 LITTLE ROCK JANUARY 4, 2015
- Amtrak Texas Eagle 22 had locomotive 156 on it tonight, Sunday
January 4. 2015 at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas. Locomotive
156 is the 40th anniversary loco. It was cold and breezy, 27 degrees
with wind chill 18. My fingers turned red from the cold. There was a
good crowd again at the station, waiting to get on the 12-minute early
Eagle at 11:19 p.m. Here are a few photos.
LATE AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE 21 AT LITTLE ROCK PLUS FREIGHTS JANUARY 8, 2015
- Southbound Amtrak Texas Eagle 21 was 9 hours and 30 minutes late into
Little Rock, Arkansas on Thursday, January 8, 2015 due to frozen
switches, broken rail and airhose problems. According to Gene
Poon of the All_Aboard passenger train group on Yahoo, the train was
"delayed North of Carlinville IL, signal issues and frozen
switches. South of Carlinville, a broken rail which was
impassable until repair. There was another farther on, but train was
walked over that one with the assistance of UP MofW. Then the train
tied down at Poplar Bluff awaiting a dogcatch because the regular
crew's Hours of Service were running out." I also included photos of
a few freights on January 8, including two red MKT red gondolas built
in February 1970 and an old UP yellow boxcar. Locomotives today: Amtrak
69 **** UP 9809, 5615, 2047exSP, 8874, 6360exSP, 6057exSP ****
GMTX 2249, 2296
UNPATCHED SP 144 AND 177 NORTH LITTLE ROCK JANUARY 10, 2015
- Unpatched SP 144 and 177 coupled together on UP's service
tracks in North Little Rock, Arkansas on Saturday, January 10,
2015. I have heard, but not verified, that both will be repainted
UP Armour Yellow. Again, this is not official, but I have asked local
UP people to verity.
UP 1988 KATY PLUS 3 MRL BOXCARS NORTH LITTLE ROCK JANUARY 12, 2015
- UP 1988, the Katy heritage locomotive, at North Little Rock, Arkansas
on Monday, January 12, 2014. Plus 3 Montana Rail Link boxcars. (My photo of the 1988 has red, yellow, green, white, brown, black and blue colors)
EIGHT DIFFERENT ROADNAMES ON LOCOS LITTLE ROCK JAN 15, 2015
- Trains and a few streetcars in Little Rock on Saturday, January
17, 2015. There were 8 different roadnames on locomotives today,
UP, BNSF, CSXT, GMTX, SSW, NS, KCS and QNSL. Also included, SP 329717
gondola built 10-77. WP 3831 boxcar, streetcar scenes, KCS 171182
boxcar built 11-79, UP 451179 yellow boxcar built 4-75, MEC 31821 Pan
Am boxcar, AGR 8200 ex-Wabash Valley Railroad Company boxcar.
Locomotives today: BNSF 271, 6131 **** CSXT 8529 **** GMTX 2239 ****
SSW 9708 **** NS 2665 **** KCS 4684 **** QNSL 311 (Quebec, North Shore
& Labrador) **** UP 9827, 9193, 8688, 5066, 7103, 7322, 8733,
6029, 5212, 7729, 5416, 4864, 2372, 9610, 4398, 4580, 4836, 4699, 5221,
4871, 6861, 8553, 7220, 4310.
NIGHT TRAINS-AMTRAK LITTLE ROCK JANUARY 21, 2015
- Night trains including Amtrak at Little Rock, Arkansas, Wednesday
night January 21, 2015. Also, a UP oil train with an old Rio Grande
hopper and a long NS pipe train. Locomotives today: Amtrak 200
**** UP 6473, 5671, 4171, 9880, 9515, 2237, 9610, 5818, 6377-exSP, 5863
**** CSXT 5479, 7538, 7926,7531 **** NS 2688, 8755, 8409, 9933 ****
BNSF 518, 2278. I tried out some new settings on my Sony Alpha 99
full-frame camera, manually setting the aperture to F2.8, shutter 1/125
to stop the moving trains and ISO to 16,000. I'll be playing around
with other settings as time goes on. Since these photos are primarily
for the web, I can use the high ISO sensitivity settings since the
pictures won't be enlarged or printed, which would cause more
graininess to show up.
LOTS OF TRAIN LITTLE ROCK SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 2015
- Saturday, January 24, 2015 was a good day for trains at Union Station
in Little Rock, Arkansas. A highlight was red and white locomotive CEFX
6007, one of 7 roadnames today. Also of note: GTW Grand Trunk Western
hycube boxcar, a boy with a fishing pole, an inside shot at the Capital
Hotel, CCX 949 Columbian Chemical Company hopper, HS 30121 ex-Valdosta
Southern Railroad Company boxcar, an empty bottle of Jack Daniels in
the ballast, line of green BN hoppers, visitors from Michigan and New
York City, bird on a milepost marker, night shot of a streetcar in
North Little Rock.
SHARP-LOOKING KCS-LED NEW TANK-HOPPER TRAIN LITTLE ROCK, JANUARY 30, 2015
- KCS Belle #4814 led (alone) a very sharp-looking new tank car, hopper
train past Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas on Friday night,
January 30, 2015 right before midnight (right after Amtrak's Texas
Eagle left the station). I could smell the new paint and they all
looked shiny and reflected the platform lights like a mirror. Since
they were so new, all the wheels were perfectly rounded so you could
barely hear them moving - they just glided smoothly along the
track.These new hoppers and tank cars were built in January 2015 with
paint applied at Paragould, Arkansas. A couple of the cars were
SHPX 214637 and NASX 4338. The front of the train passed at 11:52
p.m. and the end passed at 11:58 p.m. I'd estimate the speed at 10 mph.
VARIOUS
TRAINS LITTLE ROCK JANUARY 25 AND 30, 2015 - Here's a few
'catch-up' photos of train at Union Station in Little Rock, taken on
January 25 and 30, 2015. There's both day and night trains, including
the BNSF local with both an ex- Santa Fe Warbonnet and blue and yellow
locomotive in the lead. These could almost be considered BNSF heritage
locomotives since they are in excellent shape paint-wise. The BNSF
local runs a circular trip from Memphis taking UP's directional south
ex-Cotton Belt from Memphis to Brinkley to Pine Bluff, then north to
Little Rock, where I understand it serves the Port Of Little Rock on
the Arkansas River, then goes past Union Station, crosses the Baring
Cross bridge into North Little Rock, backs onto the Little Rock &
Western tracks to switch off some it it's cars to the sidings in west
Little Rock at Pulaski, then goes back north into North Little
Rock then heads north to Bald Knob then east to Memphis again. It
almost always passes Union Station about the time the Texas Eagle
arrives around midnight every night.
NS 8100 NICKEL PLATE HERITAGE LITTLE ROCK FEB 5, 2015
- NS 8100, the Nickel Plate heritage loco, passed Union Station at
Little Rock, AR Thursday night, Feb 5, 2015 at 11:42 p.m. on the
MFWNL-4 manifest from Fort Worth to North Little Rock. It was the
second unit. I was told the unit was heading back to NS territory for
repairs. 1-UP 7740 headed the MFWNL-4 train with NS 8100 as the second
unit, 11:42 p.m. Feb 5, 2015 - 2-NS 8100. 3-NS 8100 from the back.
NS 8100, UP 1988-4141-7400-6938 NORTH LITTLE ROCK FRIDAY FEBRUARY 5, 2015
- NS 8100, UP 1988, 7400, 4141, 6938 in North Little Rock, Arkansas
today, Friday,February 6, 2015. NS 8100-Nickel Plate was on a service
track, both 1988-Katy and 7400-Pink Ribbon were in pieces in front of
Jenks Shops and UP 4141-Bush was at its usual place in front of Jenks
under tarp and UP 6938 Centennial was displayed at Jenks. Also I saw an
old red classic car on the way home.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS FEBRUARY 8, 2015
- Sunday, February 8, 2015 at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas. I
caught several afternoon trains with motive power roadnames of UP and
KCS including UP 7754, 4284,5342, 9172, 8560, 4011, 6620, 6680, 8714,
3895, 4525, 4582, 4792, 4008, 4465, 6080 *** KCS 4008. Also I saw some
Hobby Lobby trailers on a stack train and more blue tank cars. I did
some special effects on a couple of photos too, using the colored foil
effect on Paint Shop Pro.
TRAINS, RAIN, COLD AND ICE LITTLE ROCK, SATURDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2015 -
Here's a few trains at Union Station in Little Rock on a cold, wet day,
Saturday February 21, 2015. I always like trains in the rain. The most
interesting locomotives to me today were on the BNSF local, which had a
warbonnet, bluebonnet, and two paint schemes of current BNSF
locomotives. Very colorful. Also MKT 553, green
hopper. Locomotives today: BNSF 548-warbonnet, 3164-blue/yellow
Santa Fe lettering, 3378-2015 both different BNSF schemes, BNSF 6163,
6281, 9256, 9088 **** UP 7984, 7967, 8523, 4338, 7957, 6001, 9184,
8688, 9800, 6145 ex-SP 144 **** NS 9079 **** GMTX 2116.,
MIDNIGHT TRAINS, STREETCARS AND A UP FREIGHT FEBRUARY 21, 2015
-Midnight trains and streetcars (yes, streetcars run until midnight on
weekends) at Little Rock, Arkansas, Saturday night, February 21, 2015,
including Amtrak's Texas Eagle and a Union Pacific freight.
WET LITTLE ROCKTRAINS SUNDAY MARCH 1, 2015 -Trains
passing Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas late Sunday afternoon,
March 1, 2015, including the Little Rock & Western local. It was a
cold, rainy-drizzly day with temperatures in the 30s, as they were over
a good deal of the mid-south. Included a photo of a bluejay bird in the
cold and an ex-Family Lines ACL/LN hopper. Locomotives today: UP 5194,
5174, 5487, 7027, 7812, 5178, 2472 **** CSXT 8575 **** LRWN-Bay Line
500, LRWN 1541 **** NS 9296.
UP 19-CAR SPECIAL, UP 1982, OTHER TRAINS LITTLE ROCK MARCH 8, 2015
- Sunday, March 8, 2015 at Little Rock and North Little Rock had a good
variety of trains, including a 19-car Engineering Special which spent
the night on the business track in North Little Rock and UP 1982, the
Missouri Pacific heritage locomotive, was also in town, and I found UP
2777, an old ex-SP SD40M-2. Plus my usual old freight cars. There
was still lots of ice on the ground from a winter storm 3 days ago.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS INCLUDING OLD SSW HYCUBE, MARCH 15, 2015
- Finally a sunny day and warmer temperatures at Little Rock, AR on
Sunday, March 15, 2015. We had seven different roadnames on locomotives
today. Included today was a string of new hoppers built this month,
March 2015, including SHPX 434659, hopper OGEX 2718 hauled on flatcar
ITTX 912682, Cotton Belt Hycube SSW 65102 built 2-78 rebuilt
12-98 lettering applied 11-14. Locomotives today
(2 taken on March 14): UPY genset 2632 **** Dardanelle &
Russellville DR 1143 (it's a EMD GMD1 built for the CN in 1959. You can
still see the faded CN lettering) **** LRWN 1541 **** NS
1139, 9961, 2741 **** CSXT 170, 7306 **** BNSF 8580 **** UP 6357, 4915,
6318, 6064, 6721 ex CNW Operation Lifesaver, 7177, 5391, 8320, 5313,
7175, 6214, 8736, 8447, 5797, 7012, 5609, 6949.
UP 1996 SP HERITAGE OTHER TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, AR MARCH 22, 2015
- Sunday, March 22, 2015 at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas. It
started out rainy but then just cloudy. Interesting trains today
including one intermodal led by UP 1996, the Southern Pacific heritage
locomotive. It was on the ILXMN-17. It got to the station at 10:40
a.m., sat there 30 minutes waiting for a signal so we had plenty of
time to get photos and talk the the crew. It left at 11:10 a.m. toward
Marion, Arkansas to the Intermodal Yard there (which is close to
Memphis). There were several other trains with mostly UP power, but the
Little Rock & Western also had a light engine move to the UP yard,
and NS had some locos too. It was a fun day railfanning and I had fun
afterwards also with friends doing non-railroad things. All in all, a
good day. I think there were 6 fans there today waiting for the SP
heritage. Also today is another green MKT hopper, which
I always take pictures of and other old freight cars. Included
locomotives: UP 7634, 8074, 9727, 3850, 4281, 6313 ex SP, 5173, 7367,
5228, 5492, 5154, 1996, 8478, 1655, 1718, 1948, 1787 ***** NS
8066, 9457 ***** LRWN 2017.
BOTH AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE 21 AND 22 , UP 1982 HERITAGE, LITTLE ROCK APRIL 1, 2015
- Amtrak Texas Eagles 21 and 22 at Little Rock, Arkansas on Tuesday
night-Wednesday morning, March 31-April 1, 2015. I decided to stay and
catch both middle of the night Eagles. Locomotive 189, the Big Game
locomotive, was on the southbound Eagle 21. I also caught a couple of
freights, including one with UP 1982, the Missouri Pacific heritage, in
the consist. While at the Amtrak station, I ran into a lady who had
worked at the Little Rock Public library with my late wife and we had a
nice chat about all those days when I used to visit. She and some
others were heading to Chicago. Fortunately tonight, both Eagles were
less than an hour late.
DALLAS UNION STATION TRAINS EASTER, APRIL 5, 2015
- While waiting for Texas Eagle Train 22 to arrive at Dallas Union
Station on Easter, April 5, 2015, I caught six freights passing the
station between 3:43 and 6:25 p.m. I also have photos of Amtrak Eagle
22's trip back to Little Rock. And DART commuter trains.
TRAINS LITTLE ROCK TODAY PLUS SSW 819 IN 1986 AT UNION STATION
- A cool, partly cloudy day at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas,
Saturday April 11, 2015. Several trains today including locomotives
from UP, BCRAIL, NS and CSXT. Also, GATX 20586 Industrias Zahoria tank
car, a family watching trains from the station's balcony, new hoppers
built in April 2015. Plus my usual assortment of old freight cars. And
a blast from the past-Amtrak Texas Eagle 22 with almost-new Superliners
and Cotton Belt steam locomotive 819 at Union Station in Little Rock on
June 16, 1986. It was around midnight. I found this photo recently.
This is at the end of the page. Locomotives today: UP
8227, 4259, 8338, 7854, 7217, 625, 5018, 5149, 6040, 7358, 4742, 3872,
9744, 5048, 4996, 3950, 4710, 8849, 7916, 8146, 7306, 5014, 7441, 8708
**** BCRAIL 4802 **** NS 9914, 9194 **** CSXT 5495 **** SSW 819 steam
engine.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS INCLUDING UP 1996 AND SANTA FE HOPPERS, APRIL 12, 2015 -
A good amount of trains at Little Rock on Sunday, April 12, 2015,
including UP 1996, the Southern Pacific heritage. There were locomotive
roadnames from 6 different railroads. Also, my usual collection of
fallen-flat freight cars including BKTY 154670 ex-New Orleans Public
Belt Railroad boxcar, EEC 3534 boxcar with green XXX Aware bottle, ICG
680110 hycube boxcar, railtrain, Santa Fe and BN hoppers on a tie train
heading for the Dardanelle & Russellville to pick up ties, 8
carloads of railfans, a bird. Locomotives today: UP
8985, 6738, 7875, 1655, 1609, 1778, 652, 1949, 1118, 7006, 6249, 6690,
3828, 4789, 7644, 4510, 8668, 9666, 7735, 4451, 4967, 7390, 8172, 8867,
6910, 6302exSP, 7217, 6045, 5462, 5120, 8420, 1996-SPheritage, 8154,
8482, 5913, 5978 **** GMTX 2145 ****HLCX 1082 **** BNSF 7233, 737 ****
KCS 4043 ****NS 9911.
AMTRAK TEXAS EAGLE 22 WITH UP POWER LITTLE ROCK, TUESDAY APRIL 15, 2015
- Northbound Amtrak Texas Eagle 22 had two UP locomotives (9672 and
4280) and one Amtrak engine (76) today, Tuesday April 14, 2015 at
Little Rock, Arkansas. The Amtrak locomotive lost power but continued
to have the HEP head end electrical power, so it remained in the
consist. It arrived at 6:16 a.m., around 6 1/2 hours late. An hour and
a half before, I caught the southbound Eagle 21 here.
FREIGHTS AND A LATE AMTRAK EAGLE 21 LITTLE ROCK APRIL 19, 2015 - On my webpage today: Sunday,
April 19, 2015 at the station in Little Rock. Amtrak Texas Eagle 21 was
about 5 hours late due to engine problems and arrived just before 8
a.m. so I got some shots of it, plus my usual freights during the day.
Some interesting freight cars today include GMRC 100103 boxcar, FXE
573057 flatcar with load, SHRX 54057 hopper built 1-75, ATSF 35019
Santa Fe hopper, CNW 175505 green CNW hopper built 5-78, HZGX 3237
gondola built 5-75, MWCX 101245 green Burlington Northern woodchip car.
Also, some flowers and inside the Capital Hotel in Little Rock. Locomotives
today: CSXT 3065, 7665 **** UP 4953, 3129, 4803, 2245, 8917, 4424,
4005, 7178, 7703, 4733, 4510, 8230, 1118, 6432, 3583, 4574, 8995, 9572,
7110, 8721, 8694 **** Amtrak 170, 100 **** GMTX 2145 **** NS 6962,
6548, 9218.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS IN SUNNY, COOL WEATHER APRIL 30, 2015
- Little Rock trains on a sunny, cool day, Thursday, April 30, 2015. I
caught 5 trains in 43 minutes before I had to leave for other
activities, like birthday parties for me. There were 5 locomotive
roadnames today, BNSF, CSXT, HLCX, NS and UP. Also, rare fallen-flag
freight cars, including Illinois Central Gulf orange hycube and a green
CNW boxcar. Plus others. Locomotives today: UP 1856, 1784,,1904, 1949,
4366, 3981, 8706, 4165, 9217 **** HLCX 1082 **** BNSF 4654, 7471, 4726
**** CSXT 8626.
SEVEN LOCO TRAIN AND OTHERS LITTLE ROCK MAY 2, 2015
- Little Rock trains on Saturday, May 2, 2015 at Union Station.
Included today was a 7-locomotive freight led by a NS locomotive
followed by 6 UP units, plus a DGRW Rio Grand hopper, GTW 305856 Grand
Trunk Western hycube blt 1-74, NYC 223343 Conrail boxcar blt 10-78
reblt 12-93, SOU 550063 Southern Super Cushion Service boxcar blt
10-70, plus other old freight cars. Locomotives: UP 4434, 3648, 3586,
3722, 9384, 3761, 4100, 6877, 5128, 4840, 4215, 4981 *** NS 9051 ***
BNSF 9118, 6903, 6002 *** CEFX 6537.
TRAINS AT LITTLE ROCK, MAY 10, 2015
- A few trains at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas on Sunday, May
10, 2015. Six different roadnames on locomotives including UP, CSXT,
NS, CEFX, FXE, GMTX. Also, blue and green tankcars, WP 3877 Western
Pacific boxcar with feather, BAEX 897 Grand Trunk Western boxcar, MKT
523 short green hopper, CP 218115 red boxcar, MP boxcar with buzzsaw.
Locomotives: GMTX 2239 **** UP 4300, 6370exSP, 4916, 4168, 8287, 1784,
1994, 1904, 6149exSP, 5059, 7347, 1118 **** CSXT 826 **** CEFX 3119
**** NS 9030, 8849 **** FXE 4659, 4665.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS INCLUDING NS 1074 LACKAWANNA HERITAGE LOCO MAY 23, 2015 -
Saturday, May 23, 2015 at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Highlights today was NS 1074, the Norfolk Southern Lackawanna Heritage
locomotive plus a long line of brand new tank cars and hoppers, all
built in May 2015. I caught 13 trains in about 5 hours, with
locomotives having 5 different roadnames including UP, CSXT, NS, BNSF
and CN. Locomotives today: UP 5281, 6889, 6259exSP, 6728, 8549,
7461, 7614, 4295, 4344, 7967, 8532, 4828, 5760, 7302, 6331exSP, 8746,
7932, 8495 **** CN 5722 **** BNSF 4116, 7643, 5016 **** CSXT 691, 8785,
8594, 7680 **** NS 1116, 1074. Locos from May 20: UP 1983, 3004 slug.
FEW LITTLE ROCK TRAINS INCLUDING LOAD OF NEW PIPES FOR KEYSTONE, MAY 24, 2015
- Sunday, May 24, 2015 at Little Rock. Just a couple of trains
today, had other things to do. Included is another load of pipes that
will be stored for the proposed Keystone pipeline. A lot of these pipes
are made right here in Little Rock and according to the TransCanada
webpage, half of the pipes for a large part of that pipeline are
made in Arkansas.
TRAINS INCLUDING A BHSF HERITAGE HOPPER, LITTLE ROCK MAY 31, 2015
- Sunday, May 31, 2015 at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas. Lots
of trains, including and all-BNSF hopper train led by two KCS Belle
units. It included BNSF 486176, one of the heritage hoppers, this one
The Denver Road. Plus my usual assortment of freight cars and
locomotive roadnames. And a colorful sunset the same day taken from the
Main Street bridge over the Arkansas River between Little Rock and
North Little Rock.
FEDERAL PAPER BOARD HOPPERS, OTHER TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, JUNE 14, 2015
- Sunday, June 14, 2015 at Union Station in Little Rock,
Arkansas. Included today are CREX 1213 Citirail locomotive
and several Federal Paper Board Company Inc hoppers, built in
April 1974 plus my regular photos of various freight cars and trains.
14 HOUR LATE TEXAS EAGLE AT LITTLE ROCK, JUNE 15, 2015 -
Northbound Amtrak Texas Eagle No. 22 arrived at Little Rock, Arkansas
14 hours and 24 minutes late on Monday, June 15, 2015 due to flooding
in Texas and a stalled freight train ahead of it north of Austin,
Texas. It arrived at Union Station in Little Rock at 1:55 pm instead of
its scheduled time of 11:31 pm the night before. Here are some rare
daylight photos of the train at Union Station. I also added a movie of
the Eagle leaving at 2:08 p.m. It was a hot and and humid day. Consist
of Texas Eagle 22 this day was single Locomotive 117, Superliners
39018, 32077, 38007, 33023-Sightseer Lounge Car, 31033, 34085, 34082,
32098 (eight passenger cars). There wasn't a baggage car on 22 today,
so one of the Superliner cars held the baggage. There were dense swarms
of gnats all over the platform area-you could get a good protein meal
if you held your mouth open. lol
AMTRAK, FREIGHTS AND RAIN LITTLE ROCK, JULY 3, 2015
- Friday, July 3, 2015 at Union Station in Little Rock, Arkansas. It
was a rainy day. Amtrak's southbound Texas Eagle No. 21 was late,
arriving in daylight at 11 a.m., plus I also caught a few freights. We
had 14 railfans there today, and we had lunch together at Whole Hog
Cafe, a barbecue restaurant. I'll show the Amtrak photos first then the
freight photos. I didn't see any 'fallen flag' freight cars today, but
I might have missed some since I was protecting my camera from the rain
a lot of the time.
TRAINS, STREETCARS, FIREWORKS LITTLE ROCK JULY 5, 2015
- Trains on Sunday, July 5, 2015 at Union Station in Little Rock,
Arkansas. Also included a few photos from the day before of a
flood-delayed Texas Eagle, whose passengers had to be bussed to points
south, and some streetcar shots. And I added a few of my fireworks
pictures from July 4.
TRAINS LITTLE ROCK, AR SATURDAY JULY 18, 2015
- A few trains on Saturday, July 18, 2015 at Union Station in Little
Rock, Arkansas. Includes a string of new green tankcars, plus my usual
freight cars. It was hot and dry, in the mid 90s, heat index 105, so I
haven't been getting many train pictures recently. I just missed two
'Leaf' low-emissions locomotives, RSSX 2056 and 577, but I suspect
they'll be in the UP yards in North Little Rock on Sunday, July 19, and I'll try to get photos to add to this page later.
SEVEN ROADNAMES ON LOCOS LITTLE ROCK JULY 19, 2015
- A great selection of trains passing Union Station in Little Rock,
Arkansas on Sunday, July 19, 2015. There were seven roadnames of
locomotives today including UP, KCS, GMTX, NS, CSXT, /BNSF and
CEFX. One train by itself had locomotives with KCS, UP, NS, CSXT and
GMTX in the consist, very colorful. Also today I saw two Greenville
& Northern Railway green boxcars, Federal FPB woodchip cars,
Siemens transformer on a heavy hauler, Cotton Belt hopper built 6-77,
two MKT short green hoppers and one MKT red gondola. I also got some
photos of the front of Union Station opposite track level, where
workers enter to go to their offices. Locomotives
today: UP 1856, 1787, 1758, 5680, 8963, 8797, 5822, 8330, 7688, 6966,
8460, 6347, 4202, 7926, 2363 (UP 1989 Rio Grande heritage was in North
Little Rock today but it was hidden by other trains so I didn't get a
photo) **** BNSF 7105 **** KCS 4560, 3945 **** GMTX 2239, 2649,
2611 **** NS 6801, 9628, 9723, 6977 (NS 1065 NYC heritage locomotive
was in nearby Pine Bluff but I didn't get a photo of it) **** CSXT
5207, 7569 **** CEFX 3118.
LITTLE ROCK TRAINS INCLUDING PERSON ON TOP OF HOPPER AUGUST 16, 2015
- Here's a few pictures at Little Rock's Union Station from Sunday,
August 16, 2015. Including a photo of a rider on top of a hopper as it
passed the station and various old freight cars. Plus a few flowers and
one shot of a Little Rock streetcar.