Western Railroad Discussion > A couple UP detours on the Transcon.

I got lucky, and caught a couple UP detours in Northern Arizona.

#1 Driving into Flagstaff on Thursday January 28th. Tried my luck at getting it downtown. An eastbound BNSF rolled by, giving me an opportunity for a couple side by side shots.

#2 I tried to shoot with the lead cab in sun, didn't happen. Fun to catch the UP on the Transcon.

#3 One Saturday the 30th, I chased the BNSF office car special to Maine. As luck had it, another UP detour followed shortly after the BNSF OCS rolled by.

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#4 I was hoping to catch the San Francisco Peaks along with the train. It's strange to see UP trains on the Transcon. Got to meet a couple other fans here. I hope your shots turned out better than mine!

Al Seever
Phoenix, AZ

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Great catches, Al. Do these detours run on certain days of the week?

Tom

i see at LEAST 1 u.p. w/b and 1 u.p. e/b detours during the day here on the seligman sub.........

66

That's ATS territory out that way - any restrictions on leading locomotives that don't have ATS installed?

-j

Only Amtrak locomotives (90 mph speed) use ATS out here.  BNSF locomotives are equipped with PTC but not ATS.

Lot's of yellow on the Transon from Hutchinson, Ks (tecnically not Tanscon until Emporia) to Chicago

Those UP units are saying "Omigosh--we've never gone this fast before, for so many miles!"  BNSF hustles.