Western Railroad Discussion > An ICY Mess Today On The BNSF

It was a slippery mess today in Ritzville, WA on the BNSF Lakeside Sub after ice rain during the night making everything an ice skating rink. I spent hours chipping away at the ice while trying not to fall. I only fell once and was not hurt. Had as much as a half inch of ice all over the ground. The tempature went up to 37 with a low of 28 causing lots of dripping and swampy conditions. If the tempature goes below freezing it will be a repeat of today with a new storm on the way. Train traffic was very light with a new slow order thru Ritzville, only 5 trains since 830am. Most stores in town were closed due to the ice. Here are my slippery catches from today, lol.

1. EB 938am oil train with BNSF 7259-8579 on the point with DPU and a friendly toot-toot from the hogger.
2. DPU BNSF 6841 on same train.
3. EB 152pm grain train with BNSF 7927-3997 on the pull with DPU's.
 

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4. Another shot of same train with a friendly wave from the hogger who had his window open.
5. DPU's BNSF 5930-7216 on same train.
6. EB 334pm manifest train with BNSF Orange Blast on the pull with DPU.

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No kidding, I was out working in that mess all last night.

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

7. Old Union Equity hopper onn same train.
8. DPU BNSF 7238 on same train.
9. WB 346pm grain train with BNSF 7208-6342 on the point with DPU's.

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10. DPU's BNSF 5137-8992 on same grain train.
11. Late entry for train six a WB 433pm "Z" train with BNSF 8120-6509-6584 on the pull. 


That's it for this slippery day! Maybe traffic will be busier tomorrow Hope everyone has a great evening and tomorrow. Thank you so much for looking! 

Larry



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/18/17 16:41 by Ritzville.

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You need a carload of rock salt set out in the team track.
Brian Stevens

That would have been very useful today Brian, lol. Possible another round of ice in the morning.

Larry

funnelfan Wrote:
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> No kidding, I was out working in that mess all
> last night.

Trains, or trucking?  No fun in these kinds of conditions!

coach Wrote:
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> funnelfan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > No kidding, I was out working in that mess all
> > last night.
>
> Trains, or trucking?  No fun in these kinds of
> conditions!

Trains, ran a eastbound on the shortline I work for.
 

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

Nice photos Larry. You need to find some old golf shoes with the metal spikes in them to help you get around.

Ronda Thomas

oklachaser Wrote:
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> Nice photos Larry. You need to find some old golf
> shoes with the metal spikes in them to help you
> get around.
>
> Ronda Thomas

Or a pair of crampons Larry  : )  That's me in the red gloves on the south side of Mt. Shasta in May of 2002. Weather prevented a safe summit so we headed back to base camp. Best to be safe and live for another try. 
John

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Thanks everyone for your interesting comments and pictures.

Larry