BNSF0424
A westbound light helper overtakes an empty unit coal train as it descends BNSF's Crawford Hill, west of Belmont, NE, on Sept. 13, 2000. If one closely examines the right side of the photograph, two additional trains can be seen. Closest, is the DPU on another westbound empty train and in the distance, approaching Crawford, is yet another empty train with UP leader. On this day, because of track work west of Crawford, BNSF was having what I always called "constipatory" conditions. In other words, things were backed up. Eventually, westbound empty trains would be backed up from Crawford to and around both horseshoe curves. I remember the dispatcher telling an eastbound loaded train, stopped out west of Crawford someplace, that he was third out east, waiting for seven west. Time to get comfortable.
BNSF0424
A westbound light helper overtakes an empty unit coal train as it descends BNSF's Crawford Hill, west of Belmont, NE, on Sept. 13, 2000. If one closely examines the right side of the photograph, two additional trains can be seen. Closest, is the DPU on another westbound empty train and in the distance, approaching Crawford, is yet another empty train with UP leader. On this day, because of track work west of Crawford, BNSF was having what I always called "constipatory" conditions. In other words, things were backed up. Eventually, westbound empty trains would be backed up from Crawford to and around both horseshoe curves. I remember the dispatcher telling an eastbound loaded train, stopped out west of Crawford someplace, that he was third out east, waiting for seven west. Time to get comfortable.