I was running an errand in Aledo on the morning of Saturday October 4, 2025 when the radio alerted me that an eastbound train that was too long to fit any sidings was leaving Weatherford on the UP Baird Sub. Two westbound UP trains would have to wait at the west end of Davidson Yard and then depart after the eastbound train’s passing. I decided to use the drone to capture the eastbound coming upgrade through Aledo.
I did not have to wait long and launched the drone at 9:37 am to record this eastbound with eight units up front pulling through the downtown area.
My Mavic Three Classic drone is rated for a top speed of around 40mph, and I easily beat the train to a point east of Aledo where I paused to catch the head end of the train once more.
Returning to land, I turned around for this view of the long train heading away from me. I certainly do miss cabooses……
The sun was still too much in the eastern sky such that both westbounds would be backlit to a degree, but I decided to catch them here instead of driving further west. The first of the two trains passed me at 11:33 and it turned out to be the hot ZAILA Atlanta to Los Angeles intermodal led by a NS motor.
The second unit was not always UP and still wears its SP heritage nearly 30 years after the merger.
Exactly ten minutes later the second westbound came by with two UP units leading a block of autoracks followed by double stacks.
With these three trains properly recorded I called it a day.
