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Western Railroad Discussion > Intermodal and Coal Train Race Through the PRBDate: 08/01/21 19:05 Intermodal and Coal Train Race Through the PRB Author: zchcsse This clip features a race between a BNSF intermodal train and a Union Pacific coal train heading out of Wyoming's Powder River Basin south of Bill, WY on BNSF's Orin Subdivision.
Non-coal trains are a relatively recent occurence on the Orin Sub (outside of MofW trains), and it was quite strange seeing intermodal here, although this does seem to be the normal routing for this "repo" train. The intermodal was seeming to get the early lead, however the UP coal train was moving a tad faster by the time the rear ends went by. Thanks for watching! -Tom You must be a registered subscriber to watch videos. Join Today! Date: 08/01/21 19:56 Re: Intermodal and Coal Train Race Through the PRB Author: goneon66 now that is a sight.
great catch and video........... 66 Date: 08/01/21 21:24 Re: Intermodal and Coal Train Race Through the PRB Author: MacBeau Nicely done.
–Mac Date: 08/01/21 21:32 Re: Intermodal and Coal Train Race Through the PRB Author: 3rdswitch Very nice and rare video.
JB Date: 08/01/21 22:49 Re: Intermodal and Coal Train Race Through the PRB Author: coach Great video!
Fantastic location!! Date: 08/01/21 23:23 Re: Intermodal and Coal Train Race Through the PRB Author: TCnR Wow, that's great.
Fun train chasing area, gets kinda warm sometimes, kinda cold sometimes and usually windy all the time. Maybe I'll get back there next year. I've seen multiple trains there with some unusual locomotives but nothing like this one. For a while I didn't catch on to the track assignments either, eventually realized the southbound trains are working their way through the multitude of crossovers for the BNSF to turn west ( Shawnee Jct to Orin Jct to Guernsey, etc ) while the UPrr turns to the east ( Shawnee Jct to Lusk then Scottsdale, etc ). Not as complicated as they make it look. Date: 08/01/21 23:46 Re: Intermodal and Coal Train Race Through the PRB Author: Fizzboy7 Highly entertaining and cool!
Got to ask a dumb question though. Why is a Portland to L.A. intermodal threading the PRB? Date: 08/01/21 23:48 Re: Intermodal and Coal Train Race Through the PRB Author: Coalca That was awesome !
Date: 08/02/21 04:39 Re: Intermodal and Coal Train Race Through the PRB Author: perklocal That was cool ! Look's like VOTD to me.
Date: 08/02/21 05:19 Re: Intermodal and Coal Train Race Through the PRB Author: SantaFeRuss Author: Fizzboy7 Highly entertaining and cool!
Got to ask a dumb question though. Why is a Portland to L.A. intermodal threading the PRB? My guess would be because of the fires in southern Oregon and nortern California and I don't think the "Inside Gateway" route on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe can clear double stacks. Portland to Los Angeles via the Powder River Basin is a hell of a long way to detour. SantaFeRuss Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/02/21 05:22 by SantaFeRuss. Date: 08/02/21 05:24 Re: Intermodal and Coal Train Race Through the PRB Author: glendale That was effin cool. Great video.
Date: 08/02/21 06:51 Re: Intermodal and Coal Train Race Through the PRB Author: howeld Great race.
Not a lot of options for BNSF if the inside gateway is closed or if it doesn’t clear double stacks. Date: 08/02/21 07:34 Re: Intermodal and Coal Train Race Through the PRB Author: tomstp Thanks for posting this interesting sequence.
I know that flat spots on wheels have to get very pronounced for them to be taken out of service. But, every coal train I hear has some pretty good "bangers" in it. Seems like that would be a little hard on the rail. Is it? Date: 08/02/21 08:01 Re: Intermodal and Coal Train Race Through the PRB Author: FiveChime Great capture!! I'm sure this will not happen again when the western routes reopen.
Regards, Jim Evans Date: 08/02/21 08:23 Re: Intermodal and Coal Train Race Through the PRB Author: mapboy FiveChime Wrote:
------------------------------------------------------- > Great capture!! I'm sure this will not happen > again when the western routes reopen. > Regards, Jim Evans They have been running B-PTLLAC4s single-stacked or all trailers via the Gateway Sub as far back as 8/15. July 2020 every other day they were running a B-PTLLAC4 or B-PTLSBD4 via Spokane-Denver-Belen. They also run B-PTLCHC4s, but they need the empties in SoCal, too. tomstp Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I know that flat spots on wheels have to get very pronounced for them to be taken out of service. But, every coal train I hear has some > pretty good "bangers" in it. Seems like that would be a little hard on the rail. Is it? Yes, it is hard on the rail, so it wouldn't surprise me to know they have impact detectors in the PRB to catch those wheel sets beyond the limits. zchcsse might know, he worked in the area for awhile. mapboy Date: 08/02/21 08:29 Re: Intermodal and Coal Train Race Through the PRB Author: inyosub SOOOooooo That's how BNSF is getting their intermodal from So. Cal .To the PNW
that is one heckuva Fuel bill, but good on them for doing it! Date: 08/02/21 08:45 Re: Intermodal and Coal Train Race Through the PRB Author: Ritzville Very NICE and enjoyable race video!
Larry Date: 08/02/21 09:07 Re: Intermodal and Coal Train Race Through the PRB Author: inrdjlg Thanks for the video - seeing stacks on the PRB < is > cool! BNSF also has the old Colorado & Southern route that heads north from Cheyenne to Laurel. That's the line that goes through Wind River Canyon. I'm not at all familiar with it, but I don't think it gets much use. Does it have clearance issues as well that would prevent stacks from going that way?
Date: 08/02/21 10:14 Re: Intermodal and Coal Train Race Through the PRB Author: RailRat Very exciting video!
Jim Baker Riverside, CA Date: 08/02/21 12:13 Re: Intermodal and Coal Train Race Through the PRB Author: zchcsse Thanks for all the nice comments, all!
As far as the intermodal goes, this was during the beginning of the fire detours as I had caught what I believe was the first HPASBAR detour the previous day in the area. However, these Portland to LA "Repo" trains do normally take this route when they have double stacks. I'd been seeing them for many months on the Seligman and Needles Subs in AZ/CA prior to the fire detours. Perhaps the economics of double stacks exceed the economics of extra crews/miles/fuel??? I don't know. |