Admin: Not sure if posting like this is OK or not. Just let me know if you would rather links than photos.
I had the day free and the weather was nice and trains were supposed to be as well.
I set the alarm for 0700 but didn't make it out of bed until 0835. No matter as nothing good was coming till at least 9.
I was out the door by 0845 and arrived at a crossing south of Coon Creek a little after 9. On the way, I heard the West Hump give Amtrak 8 track 2 and "The Crick" as I was heading up Highway 94. I thought I might miss it and though about going to 35th Ave. but decided to keep going and hope for the best. After all, Amtrak is the same every day, right? As I crossed the tracks, I saw the headlight in the distance and knew I was golden.
Next up was train S-SEACHC3-09A with an NREX ex-SP tunnel motor 3rd out. I got him like so:
By looking at the Main 2 intermediate, you can see another train was on main 2. This was the F MCNKC1 13M with a couple of CN SD75I's. Whenever I'm out in the morning, I try to get this train as it usually has CN power. I like CN power, but not on WC tracks.
With nothing else coming in the near future, I decided to get another shot of the CNKC. Seeing that the South/West side of Northtown was empty, I went for a shot from the bridge over the engine facility. It went a little something like this:
Having no where else to go, I went to Univeristy until I heard something from the WC Transfer. All I saw was a Z train and just grabbed a roster shot of the BNSF 8715 trailing.
A few minutes later I heard the Monte Local get the lineup out of the T Yard. Since they had two Cascade Green GP's, I figured a jaunt down to Van Buren St. was in order.
I started to head back to University but then I heard the West Hump tell the H-PASCWY1-11A he would going the Midway Sub. So I turned around and got lucky. An SUD empty and the PASCWY were both headed towards Van Buren at the same time. I've never seen this before and thought it was pretty cool.
On my back towards Northtown I heard the MN dispatcher talking to the WC Transfer saying they will have to wait for 490 to clear CP University before they can continue onto Humbolt. This day two transfers were running and thankfully the WC 2500 was on the one for Humbolt. I wasn't expecting it to be leading going west, was told it was facing east.
I pulled up along the East Main just as 490 was clearing so I pulled into CP University to get a shot.
Hoping to get them crossing the river, I decided to go to Humbolt instead to guarantee another shot. The lighting is leaving a bit to be desired, but I figured an SD35 is worth the effort.
I love it when engineer don't turn on their lights.
With nothing else to do, I headed back to University. As I was pulling in CP 293 was pulling up the East Main with the CP 6069 traliing. That's one of the few PAC-MANs left isn't it?
While 293 was still pulling in the S-SEACHC3-09 was departing Northtown. I was glad to see this since I could now get a roster of the SP tunnel motor.
While all this was happening, the H DILLIN was pulling into Northtown to be tied down for the outbound. The outbound was called for 1515 but for some reason didn't depart until almost 1700.
I knew the S-TACSTP2-11N with a couple CSXT Birght Future's was still about 25 mins out so I headed towards Coon Creek to find a shot. On my way I heard them clear their warrant so after a quick U-turn I grabbed them at Interstate like so:
After hearing what the Northtown switchtender said, it sounded like it would be a pretty quick set out for the TACSTP. So I went back to University to catch them again.
While waiting for the TACSTP to finish their work, CP 198 was busy at Shoreham making their setout.
By now it was time for me to head home but I figured I'd get another shot of the TACSTP at Van Buren. on the way. Yes, that is a cop in the distance. He just drove past me.
I was pretty happy with the day. Got quite a few trains and some decent consists. Nothing amazing but good enough to be worth the effort.
That's all folks, hope you enjoyed it.