Blue Goodbyes
15 years ago to the month, I made use of a delay in the Conrail "split" to make a 9-day whirlwind tour of the system. This time, the majority of the DM&E was on the verge of changing hands so it was time to hit the road again. Being a smaller "bite" this time around, four days were used for this last look. Just as in 1999 I had to accept I wouldn't see it all but instead go for a good sampling. Just like 15 years ago, the reward was great weather, railroad action every day, and a nice look at part of the country I don't often visit.
We plotted the trip around our endpoint of Belle Fourche, SD, starting point of an overnight job (B01) that switches mainly bentonite loading facilities here and at the end of the line at Colony, WY. As B02, the train makes a daytime run down to Rapid City and back. On Monday May 26th, B01 finished up before dawn and parked the train in town. At about 9am a crew arrived that had been cabbed up from Rapid City.
Looking south down Highway 85 the power for B02 can be seen heading for the wye. The Black Hills rise in the distance as the Butte County Courthouse and Dakota Mill & Grain elevator dominate the cityscape. The traffic provides a good summary of this interesting crossroads city near the center of the nation, motorcycles, campers and industrial trucks. Full-blown tourist season is still on the way but there was no shortage of activity on this Memorial Day. May 26, 2014.
Blue Goodbyes
15 years ago to the month, I made use of a delay in the Conrail "split" to make a 9-day whirlwind tour of the system. This time, the majority of the DM&E was on the verge of changing hands so it was time to hit the road again. Being a smaller "bite" this time around, four days were used for this last look. Just as in 1999 I had to accept I wouldn't see it all but instead go for a good sampling. Just like 15 years ago, the reward was great weather, railroad action every day, and a nice look at part of the country I don't often visit.
We plotted the trip around our endpoint of Belle Fourche, SD, starting point of an overnight job (B01) that switches mainly bentonite loading facilities here and at the end of the line at Colony, WY. As B02, the train makes a daytime run down to Rapid City and back. On Monday May 26th, B01 finished up before dawn and parked the train in town. At about 9am a crew arrived that had been cabbed up from Rapid City.
Looking south down Highway 85 the power for B02 can be seen heading for the wye. The Black Hills rise in the distance as the Butte County Courthouse and Dakota Mill & Grain elevator dominate the cityscape. The traffic provides a good summary of this interesting crossroads city near the center of the nation, motorcycles, campers and industrial trucks. Full-blown tourist season is still on the way but there was no shortage of activity on this Memorial Day. May 26, 2014.