by Steve Eshom on May 26, 2009
As Lon mentioned in a reply to my post last week the BNSF 9316 was pulled off the empty Rawhide coal train at Vancouver due to flat spots. This left me with a hole in my coal train monitoring for the week.
Running an hour and a half behind the C-RHMCEC coal train last week was a C-SCMCEC (Spring Creek Mine) load. The Spring Creek train was lead by an ES44AC BNSF 5892. When I arrived at the depot Sunday morning I heard the BNSF 5892 announce its arrival at Felida so this gives me another week where I can post stats on the Centralia coal train cycle.
Last week the SCMCEC passed 39th St. at 6:30pm on its loaded trek (above) to Centralia. This week Lon tells me that it passed at approximately 5:30pm giving this train an average speed of 13.1 MPH for the week.
So what would speed up this cycle and is it worth the investment to improve the cycle? Both of parts of that question require quite a bit of research and analysis. I’m sure the class Is do that sort of analysis on critical delivery lanes but how important is it for coal delivered to Centralia? I’m sure if the cost of providing delivery service could be improved the railroads would be interested even for Centralia coal. For now though I’m betting the 13-14 MPH average speed is close enough to the sweet spot.
Thank you Lon for the spotting notes.
Technorati Tags: train, railroad, railfan, photo, photography, coal, bnsf, centralia, spring creek mine
by Steve Eshom on May 22, 2009
Brut·ish
Pronunciation: \ˈbrü-tish\
Function: adjective
1: resembling, befitting, or typical of a brute or beast
2 a: strongly and grossly sensual b: showing little intelligence or sensibility
SD70ACe’s sure are imposing when they are coming straight at you. Instead of the sleek, elegant lines of an F unit, they were given utilitarian features to improve their safety and performance. Their square, boxy nose is designed to maximize crew safety but arguably their worst feature somehow gives these brutes appeal.
Technorati Tags: train, railroad, railfan, photo, photography, vancouver, washington, union pacific, sd70ace, emd
by Steve Eshom on May 19, 2009
Yep, I ran into the BNSF 9316 again this week while out enjoying some afternoon railfanning with friends. This time it passed 39th St. around 5pm on Saturday which gives it an average speed of 14.5 mph. That’s up a bit from last week’s 13 mph figure. I can just hear a bean counter somewhere scream for joy!
Richard from Centralia tells me the coal trains spend about 8 1/2 – 9 hours off the main line. That includes the dumping time (just over 4 hours for this train), down time waiting for his crew to get on the train and coordinate with Trans-Alta, and down time waiting for a BNSF crew to retrieve the train and get it on the main line again. Richard gives the BNSF a 2 hour ‘pre-release’ call but BNSF doesn’t always have a crew there two hours later thanks to the vagaries of railroading and the economy.
Its been fun keeping track of this train, I wonder if I can make it 4 weeks in a row?
Technorati Tags: train, railroad, railfan, photo, photography, coal, BNSF, Centralia, Power River Basin, Rawhide
by Steve Eshom on May 17, 2009
UP’s A-SENP heels into the 45mph curve at the Wildlife crossing south of Ridgefield, WA
Birders and Foamers Unite! Ridgefield South is the place!
Last Sunday when I visited Ridgefield South not only did I see three trains but I saw enumerable birders out enjoying the nice weather. I photographed the coal train from the main 2 side and after it passed a gentleman set up his gear on the main 1 side. He however pointed his very long, very camouflaged, Canon lens into the trees at a woodpecker nest. In the mean time other folks showed up and acted very interested in what he and I were shooting. Finally someone walked down and asked what all the excitement was about. I explained a southbound freight was coming while the other gentlemen discussed the nesting habits of the woodpecker he was photographing.
It was a beautiful day for the pursuit of a hobby at Ridgefield South err…ahh…Ridgefield NWR S Unit.
Technorati Tags: trains, railroad, railfan, photo, photography, UP, Union Pacific, Ridgefield, Washington, Ridgefield NWR
by Steve Eshom on May 11, 2009
Two Sundays in a row I’ve run across the BNSF 9316 and its coal train. Last week (5/3) I photographed it northbound at 39th St. around 9:30am. This week it passed the same point just a few minutes after 10am.
Think about this for a minute. That train was dumped by Richard and his crew in Centralia last Sunday, taken empty back to Rawhide mine in Wyoming, loaded again, and returned in one week’s time. I calculate the average speed over the one week period at right at 13mph. That’s pretty darn good considering what this train went through….
1. approximately 2200 mile round trip
2. two 1000 mile inspections
3. multiple fuel stops
4. helpers at Helena for Mullan Pass
5. unloading at Centralia
6. loading at Rawhide
7. crew changes in Gillette, Sheridan, Laurel, Helena, Hauser, Pasco, Vancouver, and Centralia
Impressive bit of work I say…
Technorati Tags: train, railroad, railfan, photo, photography, coal, BNSF, Centralia, Power River Basin, Rawhide
