Western Railroad Discussion > Chasing the JY Local

A comment by a TO member regarding my recent post about chasing the JY local prompted me to do so, at least partially, this morning. The JY is normally called at 0600 in Mandan and can run all the way to Jamestown depending on work. This morning's edition, led by BNSF 132, departed Mandan at 0730 with its first work at Great River where they would drop their bottom cars for transfer to the DMVW whose crew was also there waiting. One cannot document the transfer as access is through the State Penitentiary's property. Next stop would be Menard's Manufacturing at McKenzie. On the way there they passed the H DILLAU in the hole at Burleigh. After the local passed the DS moved the H train up to Pierce.

Their first stop switching at Menard's (pick-up 3 empties, drop 3 loads) is documented below. But this would end my chase as I had commitments in Bismarck. Returning to Bismarck I shot the ballast train in the Bismarck siding, the eastbound H LAUNTW and (again) the H DILLAU. Thanks for looking.

Bismarck Bill

1. BNSF 132 east crossing the old Missouri River bridge 
2. 132 waiting for the conductor to walk to the head end after dropping DMVW transfer cars at Great River. Barely visible is the DMVW rails to the industrial park. These rails used to be Soo's mainline from St. Paul to Bismarck.
3. BNSF 3637 west in the hole at Burleigh with the H DILLAU.
more....



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/20/26 17:43 by bmarti7.

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4. 132 with Menards loads, cuts from the rest of their train on Menards siding 
5. Conductor throws the switch to the spur 
6. 132 backs in to retrieve the empties 
more....

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7. Switching completed, the conductor uses had signals to attach the power to the "new" train 
8. after completing the air test the 132 departs east 
9. BNSF 7887 east leads the H LAUNTW at 12th St in Bismarck with the ballast train in the hole
more....

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10. The H LAUNTW includes those stacks shown in my post from yesterday 
11. After a long morning waiting the BNSF 3637 west gets signals to Mandan 

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Lot of neat photos today. Basing the local and local everything it meets is really cool
Brian Stevens

Posted from iPhone