Western Railroad Discussion > Crawford Hill - Breezy Point Trip

One Thursday, May 19 I made a last minute decision to go to Crawford Hill, NE, and stay at the Ponderosa Ranch, located on Crawford Hill at Breezy Point. I had found out that the Ponderosa Ranch had a guest house available to rent through an add in CTC board. The Ponderosa Ranch is a working cattle ranch, operated by Jeff and Kim Lund, and Dale and Donna Steike. The ranch has a guest house that they rent out to hunters, families or others interested in horseback riding, and railfans! To say the least, this seemed to be a unique occurance, and I promptly inquired with the owners of the ranch. They were prompt with there reply, and very very friendly. Trying to juggle work schedules, availability of the guest house, and good weather was a tough task, but Kim Lund kept me posted and had great patience as I tried to arrange a trip. At the last minute, conditions looked good, and off to NE I went. I arrived late in the day Thursday, May 19, and shot several trains. The next morning, after a break fast of french toast, eggs, and bacon prepared by Kim and served with the family, it was off to the tracks. The best access is high above the tracks, and I was taken trackside via Kim on there 4 wheeler. The following images are a sampling of the 200+ images I shot in a little over a day.... Train density was excellent, and photo angles abound. I cannot recommend highly enough a trip to the Ponderosa Ranch to shoot the BNSF on Crawford Hill (all quite legal without trespassing), and support the Lunk and Steike family as they open there ranch to railfans, a very UNIQUE occurance in this day and age!!! For those interested, here is the link to the ranch website http://www.ponderosaranch.net/

This first shot shows an eastbound at the ranch grade crossing, to the west of Breezy Point on May 19.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/29/05 11:54 by skyview.

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Pushers are used on the hill, here is a returning set with fuel tendor on Thrusday, May 19, looking east from the ranch grade crossing.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/29/05 11:54 by skyview.

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An eastbound coal load is pushed around the curves, just below Breezy Point, Friday May 20, 2005



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/29/05 11:55 by skyview.

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Light pushers returning west to Crawford pass pushers on an eastbound coal load, just below Breezy Point on Friday, MAy 20, 2005.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/29/05 11:55 by skyview.

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A shot of eastbound train in the S curves, just west of the ranch's private crossing. The high angles provided the best views.... Friday May 20, 2005.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/29/05 11:55 by skyview.

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One of the pusher sets seen all day had two BNSF red/silvers units, as seen here. Friday, May 20, 2005 just below Breezy Point.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/29/05 11:56 by skyview.

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A westbound coal empty moves through the curves at Breezy Point, Friday, May 20, 2005



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/29/05 11:56 by skyview.

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Wide angle view of a westbound train coal empty just west of Breezy Point, Friday May 20, 2005



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/29/05 11:57 by skyview.

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The photo angles are endless, just follow the light around the curve. Here is a view of the sharp curve at Breezy Point as a pusher set shoves a coal load east, Friday, May 20, 2005.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/29/05 11:57 by skyview.

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The curve is infact a horseshoe curve, as can be seen in this shot of a loaded eastbound coal load, with the rear of the train visible. Mutliple movements make for good angles, with plenty of returning helper sets to add to the action. Friday, May 20, 2005.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 05/29/05 11:57 by skyview.

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A wide angle view of the horseshoe curve, shows an eastbound coal load just below Breezy Point. Friday, May 20, 2005.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/29/05 11:58 by skyview.

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Angles everywhere, here is a shot across the horseshoe curve of another eastbound load. Friday, May 20, 2005.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/29/05 11:58 by skyview.

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Another shot showing an eastbound train, with the trains pushers visible in the background. Friday, May 20, 2005.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/29/05 11:58 by skyview.

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Train trains trains, here, an westbound emtpy exits the large, horshoe curve, as seen from Breezy Point. In the distance, a eastbound coal load glistens in the sun. Friday, May 20, 2005.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/29/05 11:59 by skyview.

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One final posting from the trip, an eastbound coal load at Breezy Point, again with train its train visible above it. Friday May 20, 2005



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/29/05 11:59 by skyview.

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WOW! I gotta get out there!

I hope these images show just some of the many angles available. I only spent one full day, as work requirements dictated. However, I would recommend two full days to shoot the curve, as the opposite side of Windy Point has many angles as well, angles that I saw while hiking but didnt have time to shoot. I encourage all to support the owners of the Ponderosa Ranch as they make this curve accessable to all railfans. One note, you do not have to stay at the ranch to gain access to the curve, they do have a day rate of $25 which allows full access to the curve, without using the guest house, again a great deal for this type of access!

I really like your 2nd shot, I havn't seen a 60M with the large BNSF on the cab. Thanks for the post.

TME

You sure make Crawford Hill look attractive. I wish I lived
closer as it would be worth 25 bucks for a show like that!
Geoff

I can't believe the number of un BNSF lettered SD60M's still in their BN reporting marks that you guys see day after day there. Here in LA once it seams like everything that is BNSF has at least BNSF lettering but once in a great while there can be a ATSF or BN unit still in there orginal reporting marks. Where are the SD60M's assigned for maintenance? Thank you for your post. Detector out