Western Railroad Discussion > UP Heavy Grain Train - Medbury Hill, Idaho - Nampa Sub

I caught this heavy grain train on the UP Nampa Sub Thursday during a very active day around Glenns Ferry, Idaho.
This was a BIG 488-axle train with 2X5X1 power that did a good job on the steep hills in the Glenns Ferry area.
The first two shots were taken at the base of Medbury Hill, a couple of miles west of Hammett, Idaho on Old Highway 30 in one of my favorite shooting locations.
There's an open gate to BLM land with a short dirt road that goes right up to the RR right-of-way.
That road is about a mile downhill (east) from Medbury Hill Road and it's at the west end of a guard rail on the north side of the road.
The old OSL grade is to the right (south) of the present alignment.
After getting the first two shots, I raced up Old Highway 30 (west) to a location I've shot from many other times - near the buried gas line a few miles to the west.
The last three shots are from that location.
There's a notch in the hills and you can walk up by the fence to get shots like mine.
By then, the power was working hard to crest Medbury Hill, but holding a steady 35 mph.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
When we were breaking camp at Three Island State Park Friday morning, another monster grainer passed through downtown Glenns Ferry (you can see the trains from the park).
We caught that train in the same location, but couldn't shoot it with a 28' trailer behind us and nowhere to pull off.
That one was about the same length but had 2X4X2 power and appeared to be working harder to get up the hill.
Looks like we're in the middle of peak grain season!



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 10/20/14 06:28 by philhoov.

---

---

---

See above for details.

---

---

I count 2X5X1 for the locos on the train. Nice pictures of a railroad hard at work doing its job.
Bruce

You're right ~ got confused between the two trains.
Thx for the catch.

Nice series and accompanying narrative. That third shot is nice with the helpers and signals visible. Thanks for sharing.

Kent in CArmel Valley

What the heck happened to those shots?

Any idea on symbols or where they were going?

Those mid train 5 locomotives - are they "manned" helpers or being controlled wholly from the lead locomotive?

Michael McInerney
Marion, South Australia,

No, not manned, controlled by radio.

Very doubtful they are manned any more than the rear DPU unit is.

TopDog - what do you mean?

IMPRESSIVE OPERATION AND PHOTOS. DOES ANYONE KNOW THE ORIGIN AND SPECIFIC COMODITY OF THESE TRAINS?

Thursday was one of my best chasing days ever!
A Z train, a light power move, the heavy grainer, an auto rack empty, and a salad shooter that I missed because he snuck up on me (wrong direction/sun on wrong side, no place to turn around).
And, there were others that I missed during the day by being in the campsite or not in position to catch them.
I have always sworn that the dispatchers/crew know when I'm unable to catch them and sneak through Glenns Ferry with a horn fest to taunt me!
I mean, what's with all the short bursts of horn anyway?
The Z was the highlight of the day with crew waving wildly and giving me bell/horn while I was upon a bluff above them just east of Glenns Ferry.
Then, as I walked back toward my Yukon, I heard more engines, walked back across the road to the edge of the bluff and saw the light power move heading east and already past me as I fumbled for my camera.
It was one of those days to dream for!

6088 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Any idea on symbols or where they were going?

Don't have the symbol but I'm pretty sure it's a export grain train (corn) from Nebraska or Iowa going to Washington State for export. Just like last year UP is going to be running several per week for the next several months, or so I was told.



Allen



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/19/14 19:41 by bradleymckay.

With absolutely no inside information whatsoever, I'm guessing that having seen two huge heavy grainers on consecutive days must be loads being delivered to Portland, etc. for export.
Then, you have to also figure that BNSF is running similar trains on the high line from the upper Midwest through Spokane to the NW coast too.
I'm wondering what the loads are - wheat, corn, barley, or what?

GLKRKA-10 (Grain-Kearney, NE-Kalama, WA)

philhoov Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm wondering what the loads are - wheat, corn,
> barley, or what?

I'm not aware of any export soybean or wheat trains running on the UP to the PNW. All corn as far as I know.



Allen



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/19/14 22:22 by bradleymckay.

Heavy stuff.

Jim

Great stuff, thanks for sharing. Glenns Ferry is one of my favorite places. There used to be an rv park down by the yard I liked staying at. He sold out and it is now a Dollar General store in the location.

Bob Ritchie
Chase, BC

That RV park is closed; likely due to no business or environmental issues.
Three Island State Park is gorgeous with power/water hookups and expansive grassy areas overlooking the actual Three Island Crossing of the pioneers' Conestoga wagons on the Snake River.
And, Carmela Winery also has full hookups for $22/night adjacent to their little golf course.
Both overlook downtown Glenns Ferry and the double main that runs through town.
Glenns Ferry and the nearby areas are my favorite railfanning locale.