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The months since my last blog post have been busy but rewarding in terms of the photo work I have done for the BNSF, UP, KCS and FWWR.  Being a self-employed photographer has meant long hours just as my last job as a network engineer did, but it is a lot more fun.  I wish I could share the photos here, but now I am under contract and the majority of them are the property of the respective railroads for their own use.

The blog entries here are among things pushed to the back burner, but I decided it was time to rectify that and share my adventures from earlier today.  I was aware that UP is running an engineering inspection trip out of Omaha that is covering this part of the system.  Today the train (SD70AH #8951 and ten Heritage Fleet cars) ran from Parsons, KS to Longview, TX via Fort Worth.  If the train was being pulled by a heritage locomotive and the weather had been clear; or UP had assigned me to photograph it; I would have planned to catch it up in Oklahoma and chase it south, but since neither was true today I decided to not waste the time and fuel and just catch it around Tower 55.

I left the house around 1:00pm and with the help of the UP computer and friends I knew the train was passing Collinsville when I stopped for a late lunch.  The train was out of Denton when I headed downtown to find a good location.  I found there were no trains just north of Tower 55 that would block the view of downtown in the background if I positioned myself on the east side of the tracks.  If it had been clear this afternoon that strategy would have put me on the shadow side of the train, but today with the thickening overcast there were no shadows.  I decided since conditions were not ideal I would risk this spot and hope no freights showed up to block my view of the special.

I could hear the UP Terminal Dispatcher talking to the UP 8951 South coming through Haltom City, but then the odds turned against me when I saw a freight train coming up the hill from the north.  Certain the train was going to block my view, I started to think about alternatives and jumped into the Explorer.  Then the freight stopped in the distance and the headlight went out, so I held my position for the skyline shot.  A few minutes later as the special was crossing the Trinity River, the headlights came back on and the freight train started to move in my direction.  Having gambled and lost, I took my consolation prize photo of the UP 8227 South with the skyline.

Just as soon as I took the above photo the headlights of the special appeared in the distance.  With my view of the skyline now blocked, I hopped back in the Explorer and drove down to the signal house just north of Tower 55 where I quickly worked the location sign into this photo.

The plan was for the special to go around the wye from north to east and then stop in Ginny Yard for a crew change before continuing on to Longview.  I waited and got this shot of the locomotive swinging through the curve with the green signal still showing.

Seconds after I snapped this photo a voice loudly announced “What are you doing out here!” and startled the daylights out of me.  I swung around but no one was right behind me.  It was Heritage Fleet conductor Justin Hilton with whom I have worked before yelling at me from a passing vestibule.  A few moments later the Inspection Car “Idaho” whisked by rounding the curve.

I quickly relocated to the east end of Ginny Yard and caught the crew change in progress.  I now had a skyline photo but not as pleasing with power lines breaking up the view.

Three minutes later the crew change was done, passengers were exchanged on the rear, and the train started to move.

One nice thing about digital versus the old film days is that if I decide to individually photograph every car in the train there is no extra cost!  First is a close up of SD70AH #8951.

Right behind was Power Car #2066.  In the lower part of the car is a well sound-proofed and insulated roomette where the Heritage Fleet conductor stays.  This trip it is occupied by my now nemesis Justin Hilton.

Next was the old heavyweight business car “Shoshone”.  Trust me it is beautiful inside.

Next was crew sleeper “Columbia River”.

Now came the deluxe sleeper “Lake Bluff”.

Next in line is the museum car “Promentory”.  This trip it more than likely contains exercise equipment for the personnel on the train.

Behind the museum/exercise car were two more deluxe sleepers, the “Portola” and “Green River”.

Now came dome diner “Missouri River Eagle”.

Right behind the dome diner was the dining car “City of Los Angeles”.

Still bringing up the rear was inspection car “Idaho” with its full glass rear end.

One more photo as the train accelerated towards Dallas.

After visiting Houston and San Antonio, next Tuesday November 10th the train will operate from Fort Worth to Herrington, KS over the old Rock Island main line.  If the sun is out maybe I will get a few more decent photos!