Western Railroad Discussion > 6644 on 6/6/23

This morning, I checked the rail cam at Washington, Iowa just as a southbound CPKC potash train was going through with CP 6644 as a mid-train DPU.  6644 is painted in a Spitfire camouflage scheme used on D-Day, and the engine is numbered after the date itself (6/6/44).  Since today is June 6, I decided I really wanted to catch this train.

I couldn't set out right away, and so I ended up arriving in Ottumwa, Iowa right about the time I thought the potash train would be arriving there too.  As it turned out, I did get there just as a southbound was coming into the town.  It's just turned out to be the CPKC 180 intermodal that was running ahead of the potash train.  This was still a first for me, as while I've managed to catch the northbound 180 version of this new intermodal service a few times, the southbound 181 seems to usually come through here a few hours earlier than this.

1) CP 8031 leads 181 at the bottom of Rutledge Hill in Ottumwa.

2) KCS 4795 as the second engine.

3) The train is almost all Schneider containers (mostly double; some single) except the last car which has two CP containers.

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Before the potash train got to Ottumwa, BNSF sent a light power move through the diamond.

4) BNSF 7694 is the first of thirteen GE engines heading west.

5) Nice to BNSF 705 in red and silver among all the orange.

6) BNSF 3764 bringing up the rear.  Couldn't get all the engines in one shot from here.  I didn't know the next one through would be a power move.

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7-9) CP 8725, with one working ditch light, leads the potash train down the ~1.6% grade.

This train is also a first for me, as this is the first potash train I've caught.  Unless I've mistaken one for a sand train.

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10) Going-away shot of the ES44AC leading.

11) Sixty-eight cars later, CP 6644 shows up.

12) The SD70ACU working as a mid-train DPU.

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13-14) ES44AC CP 8767 as the rear DPU.

15) Video of the potash train (edited for time).

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Neat catches! Potash train was interchanged to the UP at KC. Heading to Galveston, TX.

SP8595 Wrote:
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> Neat catches! Potash train was interchanged to the
> UP at KC. Heading to Galveston, TX.

Thank you.  Good to know CPKC is still willing to interchange Texas-bound traffic at Kansas City (for now).