Western Railroad Discussion > A Critter Crawl across the upper midwest

Just returned home from a whirlwind, transcontinental solo driving trip to Montana, aimed at documenting what's likely to be the last summer of Montana Rail Link, and in the process spend some time in my favorite places on the planet. I'll post some pix from that portion of the trip a little later, but first, lets look at what could be seen on the trip home.  The idea was to drift southeastward from Laurel toward the UP main, and then follow "the Big Yellow Subway" across Wyoming, Nebraska, and Iowa.  Lots of mainline trains to be seen along that route, but one of the primary goals was to see what power could be seen at various grain elevators, ethanol plants, and what have you alongside the mainline. 

1) and 2). Here we are just prior to leaving Montana on the way home.  We are at Bridger, MT, just barely in Montana at all, about to cross into Wyoming. This was a total surprise--obvious former CN "Draper Taper" SDs lettered for the Montana Limestone Company, right next to the US highway. Not sure if these folks ship trains that are big enough to require this horsepower for switching, but I suppose the rearward visibility afforded by the Draper cab probably comes in handy in the winter, even if they're only switching a few cars. Anybody have additional info on this operation?

3). I'd never thought of Wyoming as sugar beet country, but obviously the Great Western Sugar Company knew more than me.  Here at Lovell, WY we have both a street and a (sort of) preserved saddle tanker that clearly date to an earlier era when GW was a dominant local player.

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3). At Basin, we catch a BNSF local picking up a tank car from a siding.

4). Wyoming definitely  is petroleum country. A little later, a leased Geep switching one of the refineries.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/23/22 04:36 by march_hare.

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6) and 7). At Chappel, NE we encounter that most rare of beasties, an unchopped first generation Geep, while a UP mainline movement rolls by in the background.

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Gothenburg, I think this is.  By this point, I'm listening to music, cruising down US 30, and generally just looking for odd power sitting along the roadside.

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Lexington NE yields a rebuilt first generation SD.

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At Kearney, NE you can choose between chopped and unchopped Geeps. 

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Interesting targets on the switch stand to 612's right in photo #9

Matthew

It's a Sunday afternoon, so the Nebraska Central engine facility in Grand Island is largely quiet.

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At Silver Creek, the only end-cab switcher of the day, with yet another UP mainline movement flying by in the background.

And lastly, a former CNW geep waiting at an elevator, also Silver Creek.

Enjoy, this is one of my favorite railfan drives in the US.

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Re: Photo #6, is that a snake in the grass near the bottom of the photo?

Great series. I like the black & green GP. Is it a GP18?

Pedro Rezende
Vespasiano MG,
https://youtube.com/c/minasgeraisrailways1

Pedro:

The black and green Geep in Kearney (NE) should be a GP10.  I believe it is ex-GMTX 651, exx-RLCX 651, exxx-IC/ICG 8043, rebuilt to GP10 from P&LE GP7 1503, nee P&LE 5734 (EMD serial 17890, blt 4/53).  Corrections welcomed.

mike woodruff
spokane

Great variety of locations and power...

JG

Thanks Mike. The unit sure has a good history.

swaool Wrote:
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> Pedro:
>
> The black and green Geep in Kearney (NE) should be
> a GP10.  I believe it is ex-GMTX 651, exx-RLCX
> 651, exxx-IC/ICG 8043, rebuilt to GP10 from P&LE
> GP7 1503, nee P&LE 5734 (EMD serial 17890, blt
> 4/53).  Corrections welcomed.
>
> mike woodruff
> spokane

Posted from Android

Pedro Rezende
Vespasiano MG,
https://youtube.com/c/minasgeraisrailways1

Interesting catches...