Western Railroad Discussion > Chasing dumplings

Toward the end of this summer just gone by we here in the Land of OZ had a cluster of days where the blue sky was filled stem-to-stern with big fluffy white clouds. It’s what I’ve heard many a railfan photographer call dumpling clouds. Little wonder. These dumplings can often give a ho-hum, routine chase a little extra pizzazz! I got out to chase them as much as I could…

1. Looking north (TT west) from the Dickinson County 1300 Avenue crossing here’s an idyllic rural Kansas scene with the prerequisite grain elevators, green field & blue sky. For extra flair we also have those highly desirable white “dumpling clouds” along with a train I’m about to give chase to.

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Let the telephoto fun begin:

2. 3. & 4. BNSF 7501 leads a unit grain train through twin elevators and down this lumpy billiard table slope.
(Photos 1-4 taken at Navarre, KS)

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OK, let’s fire up the rig and go find another helping of dumplings…

5. 6. & 7. Now stationed at the Dickinson County 500 Avenue crossing we watch the 7501 + export grain climbing up another billiard table grade.

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8. & 9. More dumplings in the obligatory away shots. BNSF 6670 is doing the rear end DP honors in image #9.
(Photos 5-9 taken at Hope, KS)

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One more location change, then…

10. I bypassed this train’s transfer from BNSF rails to UP (ex-Rock Island) rails at Lost Springs and headed for a spot a bit further south. This is Lincolnville, KS where once upon a time the Mighty Fine Rock Island ran trains. Can you hear the echo-cry of that 5-chime horn just down the line?

11. & 12. And here comes the 7501 + entourage, now on UP running rights down to Peabody. One more look at DP unit 6670 and we have to say goodbye to Lincolnville.
(All photos taken August 2, 2020)

…I had to break away from my BNSF chums and go chase something slightly higher on the railfan pecking order: ( https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,5080634,5080634#msg-5080634 ).

Thanks for riding along!
Lance Garrels
santafe199



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/30/20 07:36 by santafe199.

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Love #1 and #2.  Grain elevators really make a shot.   Good composition here, even w/o the dumplings!

Nice chase and shots.  I really like the shots a mile south of Navarre----seems like we were always right at the elevators shooting in the past.
Brian Stevens

Pic three is a killer shot!

RC Lundgreen

Really NICE series, lots to look at with the dumpling clouds,

Larry

I like your bucolic shots. Thanks for sharing, Lance.  --Kelly