On Saturday September 12, 2026, I drove to Abilene, Texas early in the morning to give two railroad photography classes as one small part of the Grace museum’s annual Railroad Day. I would have driven out Friday and spent the night, but two data centers are under construction and even if you can find a hotel room the cost is astronomical. I drove out and back the same day and while on the way home in the late afternoon.
I first stopped off at the local short line, Southern Switching. Four locomotives were present. First up was a single SW1200, ex-TRRA SW1200 number 1233.
Nearby what I believe to be three GP38-2’s were parked.
With the radio quiet and no lit signals on the UP I headed east out of town. I stopped in Clyde to get a drink and heard on the radio there were four westbound trains approaching. Three intermodals and one merchandise train. The first one was already at Baird so I waited at the east end of Clyde for it to pass. I made sure to include the old style municipal water tower.
The second intermodal train was not far behind, so I only went about two miles east to the county road 279 crossing at the top of the 1.3 percent Baird Hill average grade. This train had one of the new Wabtec Fort Worthrebuilds for its second unit.
The third intermodal I think was a “Z” train and was far enough back that I had time to advance to the west edge of Baird where I launched the drone and get into position for this view looking east across town. Baird Hill is divided into two parts, the first being from west Jayell Siding to downtown Baird where the tracks levelled off for a mile or two. The train is about 1/3 of the way up the second part of the hill which ends just east of Clyde.
The fourth and final train was about 15 minutes behind and averaging five to ten miles per hour as it was much heavier with just two units on the point and two more in DPU mode pushing on the rear.
I like this area for drone work and will have to find my way back soon!