In the approximately seventeen years since the UP released their six heritage units into service, early on I systematically captured digital images of all of them in pristine condition. These days I have digressed to the point that I will only go after them if convenient and under better than average conditions. Such was the case late in the afternoon of Wednesday March 2nd when I learned a westbound IDISI (Dallas Intermodal to Santa Teresa, NM) intermodal train was leaving Fort Worth with the UP 1989 Rio Grande heritage unit leading.
I left the house with the intention of catching the train with good 3/4 lighting in Aledo, but then I learned from a friend that “school’s out” traffic was especially bad in town. I made a 180 degree turn on FM 1187 and headed back to Aledo-Iona Road where with only a minute or two to spare I caught the train at 4:38 pm as it passed the spot which used to be the old west end of Iona siding. The resulting phot was more head on than what I wanted but I was glad to have not missed it altogether.
The direct lighting shows this unit has not been washed in a while and people have been drawing their initials in the dirt on the nose. Not the optimal results, but better than nothing. Obviously UP will be starting a tie replacement program west of Fort Worth in the near future.
Exactly a week later on the morning of Wednesday March 9th I received intel that the UP 1989 was leading an eastbound ILBNS (Long Beach, CA to Norfolk Southern) intermodal train on its way to Fort Worth. With optimal morning light in mind for this train I geared up and headed west from to house to one of my favorite spots in North Annetta at the east approach signal 270.5 to the siding at Earls. After a bit I heard the dispatcher tell the UP 1989 they would be taking the siding at Weatherford to meet two westbounds; a ZMNLA (Marion, AR to Los Angeles) with a IMNSI (Marion, AR to Santa Teresa, NM) right behind it. The Z train came past me at 11:02 am with four units all elephant style up front.
Fifteen minutes later the smaller IMNSI rolled by with a GE leading an EMD. I framed it up with a small herd of cattle in the distance.
Twenty-eight minutes passed and friend Paul Beverung joined me here for the signature photo at 11:45 am as the eastbound passed the signal in perfect light.
The initials were still there so the UP 1989 had not bathed in the past week. I swiveled to the right and caught this incomplete side view that I like anyway. Note the engineer waving at Paul out of frame to the right.
Mission accomplished, it was time to head for home to get some work done.
