Western Railroad Discussion > 4 Days in Central Kansas (Day #2-pt. 2)

After the break we pick right back up with our heroes awaiting the 6 PM departure of today's excursion, the final leg out of Newton. We have now been joined by my fellow "80's Kansas Gang" member John Arbuckle and his friend Kelly Martin from Ponca City, making a total of 5 in our photography entourage. We get our afternoon depot shots and hang around awhile watching a couple of EB trains, but do very little shooting. (If truth be known, THIS old fart was inside the depot soaking up some AC!) We know of 2 more EBs on the way and decide we have time to find a more favorable sunlight angle on the south edge of town along SW 14th St.
Take the steering wheel; photo captions...

1. BNSF 7540 is again parked in that historic slot at Main St. waiting to haul Newton's final excursion leg.

2. BNSF 7565 is leading an EB stack train under the US hwy 50 overpass along Sand Creek, the namesake of the RR yard here in Newton.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/20/16 14:46 by santafe199.

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3. & 4. BNSF 7540 in 2 telephoto shots, 1 long & 1 medium, at the city-owned former Santa Fe Depot in Halstead. These are the shots that the railfan curse
"Mr. Cloud Has Struck AGAIN!" got me on 24 hours earlier. I had much better luck this time.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/05/23 21:48 by santafe199.

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5. & 6. We managed to overtake the Special as it went through Hutchinson and shot it again off the US hwy 50 overpass between Whiteside & Partridge.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/05/23 21:49 by santafe199.

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To the Cali guys, after watching the Save Mart, just a note that the green stuff in the pictures is called grass.

7. BNSF 4806 gave us a scare as the gang arrived at the scene I had scouted out 24 hours earlier (but failed to wait at long enough to shoot the Special). We were just debarking from from our cars when this horn & headlight showed up causing my 56 year old legs to get a burst of 26 year old energy. Luke & I ran & just made it to the top of the levee to shoot & watch this train de-elevate into a lowly manifest instead of the expected Special.

8. BNSF 7204 on the 'Harsha Canal' bridge in Hutchinson. This time, proper patience was rewarded on many levels as all 5 of us got the shot we came for, young 'Master Luke' achieved TO's award: "Image of the Day" with his shot & I got the shot I really wanted, but screwed up yesterday.

9. BNSF 7540 bringing up the rear of the Special. Not quite visible through the trees is the K&O (former MP) crossing.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/05/23 21:50 by santafe199.

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rehunn Wrote:
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> To the Cali guys, after watching the Save Mart,
> just a note that the green stuff in the pictures
> is called grass.

Be careful Rich. In Cali say "grass" and someone will say "you got some you can sell me, dude"?


AM

10 & 11. BNSF 5406 has replaced the 7540 and has been fitted with a FRED as seen in 2 more of my attempts at available light, night photography. This train will
undergo an air test before immediate departure for Wellington. The last 2 days for the 2011 BNSF Employee Appreciation Special will be with the same 1 PM & 6 PM
departures west out of Wellington.
(all photos taken June 22, 2011)

Until tomorrow:
Lance Garrels
santafe199



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/05/23 21:52 by santafe199.

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