Western Railroad Discussion > Marshall Canyon Monday

Saw that the westbound Empire Builder was going to be quite late again today, so decided to spend lunch hour in Marshall Canyon (WA) in the hopes of catching him.  Just before noon, a UP/CP grain train showed up, really struggling on the grade.  He was running 2X1XFred, but I didn't get a car count.  Then, at 12:25, Amtrak #27 zipped through at track speed.  Finally, at 12:45, a BNSF grain train came by, doing a little better than the CP train earlier.  He was also 2X1.  All in all, a very productive lunch hour.

mike woodruff
spokane

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3 excellent shots!

RC Lundgren
Elgin, TX

Very nice shots; great perspective!
GK

An hour well spent Mike.  Nice photos.

The CP grainer that was 2x1x0 had 107 loads and the 2x1 grainer had 108 loads. yesterday there was a south bound Cp grainer ( on the UP) 

that was 2x2. Very rare. No car count for that one.

A three train lunch show makes the whole day.
—Mac

Very NICE catches, especially #27. I managed to catch #27 at 121pm, very late.

Larry

This is cool, for sure. Chehalis cam showing a few grainers off the CP @ Eastport heading for Tacoma via the Washy/Gorge recently, after a very long dry spell. Of course, there have probably been some running all along that have terminated at Kalama etc. (which wouldn't go past the Chehalis cam) but still, it seems like this business is probably picking back up a little. 

It appears that the Chargers have taken over the Builder.  Apparently, their earlier teething problems have been solved.  Can anyone confirm this??

Also, were those ballast cars in the photo active or stored?  

Nice shots, Mike, thanks for posting. 

TIA for any reply.  

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA

ntharalson Wrote:
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> Also, were those ballast cars in the photo active
> or stored?  

I would call them active, although they sometimes sit in that siding at Scribner for a while.  There is a ballast pit at "Missile Base" just east of Lamphier siding, about 25 miles to the west, and I would imagine that the ballast cars are staged at Scribner until they're needed.  Other MofW equpment sits in that siding from time to time as well.  Thanks for the kind words.

mike woodruff
spokane

My favorite--obscure location, nice shots TIM

stevelv Wrote:
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> An hour well spent Mike.  Nice photos.

Very nice..!!