Cutting it Close in Topeka
After sitting just west of the Oklahoma border in Texas for a few hours while a grain train derailment in front of it got cleared up, BNSF's O-KAITOP finally got back on the move again with the 1776 & 250 on the point.
This was a deadhead move, but clearly the crew was interested in getting home, and DS104 was interested in getting them off of the line. They were pulling up to the west switch in Topeka at 22:46, which was just about the same time that Amtrak no. 3 was getting to Lawrence. By the time that the mainline switch had been lined back, and that the O-train made it to the east end of the yard (Amtrak station), the Chief was rolling in at 23:22. That being said, the switch itself was lined back with plenty of time to spare, but I could've seen a scenario where the DS would've held these guys out at the siding in Osage City just to play it safe.
In an unrelated aside, I got back home, and my wife says to me "did you get the train you're looking for?" "I did! And this time, it's one of the red, white, and blue ones!" She rolled her eyes and said "Ugh, again?" Hahaha! I fully appreciate that I'm lucky to see these operate as I often as I have, but it's funny that for her, the shine has completely worn off.
Cutting it Close in Topeka
After sitting just west of the Oklahoma border in Texas for a few hours while a grain train derailment in front of it got cleared up, BNSF's O-KAITOP finally got back on the move again with the 1776 & 250 on the point.
This was a deadhead move, but clearly the crew was interested in getting home, and DS104 was interested in getting them off of the line. They were pulling up to the west switch in Topeka at 22:46, which was just about the same time that Amtrak no. 3 was getting to Lawrence. By the time that the mainline switch had been lined back, and that the O-train made it to the east end of the yard (Amtrak station), the Chief was rolling in at 23:22. That being said, the switch itself was lined back with plenty of time to spare, but I could've seen a scenario where the DS would've held these guys out at the siding in Osage City just to play it safe.
In an unrelated aside, I got back home, and my wife says to me "did you get the train you're looking for?" "I did! And this time, it's one of the red, white, and blue ones!" She rolled her eyes and said "Ugh, again?" Hahaha! I fully appreciate that I'm lucky to see these operate as I often as I have, but it's funny that for her, the shine has completely worn off.