Nostalgia & History > Thirty Thursday: Somewhere on the Transcon

Location assist needed here:  We're somewhere along the former Santa Fe in northern Arizona, in February, 1996.  This is labelled as an early BNSF ballast train "around Seligman", but I wouldn't take that description too precisely.  I was cruising along Rte 66 and shooting whatever turned up.   A hundred miles each way would be a good guess.

 And if this really is a ballast train, why does it have UP hoppers in it? 

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johncarr Wrote:
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> March_hare,
>
> It looks like the area between Peach Springs and
> Nelson, AZ. Train would be eastbound. My guess is
> the train is an empty coal train going to one of
> the coal mines in New Mexico. There were several
> customers in California, mostly cement plants,
> that occasionally received coal from New Mexico.
> Usually these cement plants get Utah coal. Hope
> that helps with both questions.
>
> John Carr in Dallas, Texas

I will agree with this. It is highly unlikely that UP cars would be in a BNSF
ballast train. Per diem would preclude this. However, this is nitpicking a
very nice shot and thanks for posting.

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA

Was a mix of UP and BNSF hoppers common in this service?  Don't think I've ever seen a mix like that in coal service.

Is that fourth engine cabless? Not a slug -- perhaps a calf?

It's one of those 4-Axle cabless GEs that the BN had. Can't remember what model it was.

chakk Wrote:
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> Is that fourth engine cabless? Not a slug --
> perhaps a calf?

WichitaJct Wrote:
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> It's one of those 4-Axle cabless GEs that the BN
> had. Can't remember what model it was.

B30-7AB. I'll second the motion that it's Nelson Canyon east of Peach Springs.

Andy