Old spot, new techniques
When this river town was my home I'd regularly make the short walk to this spot after work. Car tracing was a thing back then. I would log on and trace 100 intermodal spine cars. Among that 100, a few would be on that days ZCHCSTP, ZCHCSSE or ZCHCPTL and have hit the scanner for La Crosse. I'd keep tabs on those cars until they'd pass the Winona Jct. scanner. Once they did it was time to head out the door. There was a little more variety back then and you could see more of the train wrapping around this curve.
Now I'm back painting and installing carpet in my old house between renters. Every so often I'll pull out my phone and take a look at the ATCS display for the (now all CTC) St. Croix Sub. At a glance I see what's happening and where. After a busy day things are getting quieter on the BNSF with a lone westbound making it's way out of North La Crosse. I go back to work for another half hour, check again and the train is going through Winona Jct. Time for a break. Just like old times I grab the camera and head over to the boat landing. Another glorious evening as folks relax on a patio and along the shore while a manifest rolls upriver.
Fountain City, WI, July 8, 2017.
Old spot, new techniques
When this river town was my home I'd regularly make the short walk to this spot after work. Car tracing was a thing back then. I would log on and trace 100 intermodal spine cars. Among that 100, a few would be on that days ZCHCSTP, ZCHCSSE or ZCHCPTL and have hit the scanner for La Crosse. I'd keep tabs on those cars until they'd pass the Winona Jct. scanner. Once they did it was time to head out the door. There was a little more variety back then and you could see more of the train wrapping around this curve.
Now I'm back painting and installing carpet in my old house between renters. Every so often I'll pull out my phone and take a look at the ATCS display for the (now all CTC) St. Croix Sub. At a glance I see what's happening and where. After a busy day things are getting quieter on the BNSF with a lone westbound making it's way out of North La Crosse. I go back to work for another half hour, check again and the train is going through Winona Jct. Time for a break. Just like old times I grab the camera and head over to the boat landing. Another glorious evening as folks relax on a patio and along the shore while a manifest rolls upriver.
Fountain City, WI, July 8, 2017.