Oregon Rail Pictures
BNSF 9123
Clock is Ticking
The colors of a Thomas Hill empty are obvious against the browns and greens native to the Sand Hills in September. The colorful sets have long been recognizable as THH trains and are currently some of the longest coal trains that run on BNSF. In general, it’s hard to complain about much here. It was supposed to be cloudy, but clearly it is not…yet. More importantly, I have a train to shoot, which as crazy as it sounds now, is not always the case with the current state of affairs. Some boring stuff below.
A little info on Thomas Hill—
During the Biden Admin, the EPA proposed new rules to go after “fossil fuel” plants and their GHG (Greenhouse gas) emissions. In 2024, they briefly became new rules, wherein coal plants/units planning to operate past Jan 1, 2039 were considered “long-term,” units planning to operate after Jan 1, 2032 but cease operation before Jan 1, 2039 were considered “medium term,” and all others planning to cease before Jan 1, 2032 were exempt. It called for the “long-term” units to install CCS (carbon capture and sequestration/storage) with a 90% capture rate by Jan 1, 2032 (this technology does not exist yet). “Medium term” was to co-fire 40% with natural gas by Jan 1, 2030. Thomas Hill is a part of a group of power plants in Missouri without a set retirement date (Sikeston, New Madrid, Iatan, Hawthorn) [Though Sikeston seems on a path to retire sooner rather than later], which means these new regulations would force them to take a position. They may either declare a retirement date before Jan 1, 2032 if they see no reason to pay for these upgrades, or declare a date beyond 2032 and prepare to begin the process of retrofitting.
In June of 2025, the EPA—now under a new Admin—proposed repealing all GHG emission standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants, which includes rules set under both the Obama and Biden Admins. There was a public hearing in July of 2025 on the subject and public comment was open until August 7th, 2025. They received 127,000 comments. The end is coming and it’s approaching fast. The next Admin will take office in January of 2029 and will most certainly make their own rules and changes wherever they are allowed to do so. In this context, Thomas Hill and its four Missouri counterparts not yet having retirement dates isn’t exactly promising news as any Admin change, court ruling, or rule change could force them to take a position at any time. There is no comforting way to swallow the fact 2030 is now knocking on the door and that everything eventually turns to shit. Sorry, I modified it.
E THHNRM0 10B
September 22, 2025 - 2:22PM
Sandcut, NE // BNSF Sand Hills Sub
BNSF 9123
Clock is Ticking
The colors of a Thomas Hill empty are obvious against the browns and greens native to the Sand Hills in September. The colorful sets have long been recognizable as THH trains and are currently some of the longest coal trains that run on BNSF. In general, it’s hard to complain about much here. It was supposed to be cloudy, but clearly it is not…yet. More importantly, I have a train to shoot, which as crazy as it sounds now, is not always the case with the current state of affairs. Some boring stuff below.
A little info on Thomas Hill—
During the Biden Admin, the EPA proposed new rules to go after “fossil fuel” plants and their GHG (Greenhouse gas) emissions. In 2024, they briefly became new rules, wherein coal plants/units planning to operate past Jan 1, 2039 were considered “long-term,” units planning to operate after Jan 1, 2032 but cease operation before Jan 1, 2039 were considered “medium term,” and all others planning to cease before Jan 1, 2032 were exempt. It called for the “long-term” units to install CCS (carbon capture and sequestration/storage) with a 90% capture rate by Jan 1, 2032 (this technology does not exist yet). “Medium term” was to co-fire 40% with natural gas by Jan 1, 2030. Thomas Hill is a part of a group of power plants in Missouri without a set retirement date (Sikeston, New Madrid, Iatan, Hawthorn) [Though Sikeston seems on a path to retire sooner rather than later], which means these new regulations would force them to take a position. They may either declare a retirement date before Jan 1, 2032 if they see no reason to pay for these upgrades, or declare a date beyond 2032 and prepare to begin the process of retrofitting.
In June of 2025, the EPA—now under a new Admin—proposed repealing all GHG emission standards for fossil fuel-fired power plants, which includes rules set under both the Obama and Biden Admins. There was a public hearing in July of 2025 on the subject and public comment was open until August 7th, 2025. They received 127,000 comments. The end is coming and it’s approaching fast. The next Admin will take office in January of 2029 and will most certainly make their own rules and changes wherever they are allowed to do so. In this context, Thomas Hill and its four Missouri counterparts not yet having retirement dates isn’t exactly promising news as any Admin change, court ruling, or rule change could force them to take a position at any time. There is no comforting way to swallow the fact 2030 is now knocking on the door and that everything eventually turns to shit. Sorry, I modified it.
E THHNRM0 10B
September 22, 2025 - 2:22PM
Sandcut, NE // BNSF Sand Hills Sub