Western Railroad Discussion > Kansas Weather Strikes Again

Yesterday afternoon I got off work early and was able to act on a tip from TO member "lilwes" that there was a westbound train heading my way down the KP. The timing of it seemed to be pushing the envelope on whether I would be ahead of it or not by the time I drove home to grab my camera. After some waiting around and checking the weather radar I decided to give up on the train and head west to shoot storms that were training across the Abilene area, that is, seperate storms repeatedly going over the same area. I wasn't long into shooting these when I heard a horn to the south and the chase really began.

1) Rolling west near Detroit, UP 7894 is dwarfed by an ominous but harmless shelf cloud as it has grain empties in tow

2) Charging through Abilene, the 7894 adds some horn and thunder during the pouring rain

3) Rolling down Ike Siding, the 7894 is about to meet the eastbound ARLNSR

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4) The ARLNSR was already at the west switch with UP 9055 leading, as evident here, the storms weren't very wide and it was clear off to the west.

5) The grain empties conductor had lined the switch behind them so the ARLNSR got to roll right on by, here the 9055 passes the old pumping station west of Abilene.

7) Coming into Abilene at Washington Street.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/25/17 13:17 by mg8711.

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7) West of Detroit, the 9055 is out of the heavy rain for the time being

8) Rolling through Chapman now, as Joe Engle's rocket looks on

9) East of Chapman at a farm field road I took my last trackside shot



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/25/17 13:21 by mg8711.

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10) I parted ways with the train at the old timetable location of Kansas Falls in this broadside view. More storms building to the east, frequent lightning, darkness, and a train switching Fort Riley will bring the day to an end.

All images taken March 24th, 2017
Thanks for looking!
mg8711



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/25/17 13:24 by mg8711.

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Great shots--nothing like elevators and trains

What type camera are yiou using

Dale Smith

Great series! I see what I might have missed when you sent me the heads up. In 2 or 3 of your images it looks like some ugly old haybag oughtta come swooping down out of the clouds riding on a broom...

;^)

That first shot is positively scary!  They're all fascinating.

JBOmaha

Wow!  Excellent photos of trains and meteorological events!  Great job!

Zephyr

Very nice...!!  Thanks for posting.

Good catchs. upkpfan

Killer shots Lucas! Most individuals (myself included) skip with the pictures when the weather is overcast and raining but Wow, you sure showed us what we are missing!

Nice weather shots!!

Larry

The storm light in #8 and #9 is really nice.

mearsksealand Wrote:
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> Great shots--

Thanks!

> ...What type camera are you using...

I use a Nikon D3300. All of these were taken with the 18-55mm kit lense it came with.
mg8711

Great stom light!

No. 8 picture has always been the shot that I thought I'd like to get at Chapman.  You nailed it. 

I don't know whether #2 or #9 is my favorite. Apparently you were driving around in a Howard Fogg painting. Just look at that lighting! Stunning work.

Rebecca Morgan
Jacobsburg, OH

I'm glad I checked out your shots on TO!  Way better quality & size than the FB posts!