Nostalgia & History > Then and Now Shots

There were a few "then and now" shots that came to mind when we took that trip last Thursday https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,4704190

The first one was at Wilber. In the first view, BN 3000 and 3004 are southbound at Wilber on June 10, 1988. Some thirty years later, on January 4, 2019, BNSF 2618 and 3005 are southbound near the same spot. In 1988, the train would switch at Hoag next and, if memory serves, set out a car or two at Beatrice before ending the trip at Wymore.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/06/19 17:19 by twjurgens.

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The third, fourth and fifth shots are at Dewitt. The first shot is a slightly different angle but the same location as yesterday (fifth). BN 2292 and 2054 are southbound with the tri-weekly Wymore Local on April 27, 1990. Also included (4th pic) is a view showing the trackside detail of the elevator at that time. BN 2816 and 2296 were power on June 16, 2000.  The 5th shot is from last Thursday with BNSF 2618 and 3005.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/06/19 17:17 by twjurgens.

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The 6th and 7th pics were taken a mile apart but the terrain is very similar. On January 21, 1991, BN 6163 and another SD-9 are southbound at the Farmland crossing. The second view was last Thursday at the first crossing north of Farmland. The terrain is very similar but a big difference in motive power!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/06/19 17:21 by twjurgens.

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It's neat to see these "before and after" shots. Remarkably similar except for the locomotives and the car types (more tanks.)

King_Coal Wrote:
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> It's neat to see these "before and after" shots.
> Remarkably similar except for the locomotives and
> the car types (more tanks.)

The tanks in the shots from last Thursday are for a bio-diesel plant at Beatrice.  In the 50's thru 80's, the north plant at Hoag shipped LOTS of anhydrous amonia.  It wasn't unusual for the local to spend a couple of hours or more switching there.

Back when I was living in NE the line got a couple miles South of Beatrice to Gasco, does it still? Beatrice was
one of those funky towns that had within 1000 feet of each other a large unused passenger station (CB&Q)
and an auto dealer (this is dead of Winter mind you) with two Trans-AM WS6 convertibles on his lot for sale.
A high performance, rear drive convertible, the absolute maximum Winter thrill ride in Nebraska.

Out
 

callum_out Wrote:
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> Back when I was living in NE the line got a couple
> miles South of Beatrice to Gasco, does it still?
> Beatrice was
> one of those funky towns that had within 1000 feet
> of each other a large unused passenger station
> (CB&Q)
> and an auto dealer (this is dead of Winter mind
> you) with two Trans-AM WS6 convertibles on his lot
> for sale.
> A high performance, rear drive convertible, the
> absolute maximum Winter thrill ride in Nebraska.
>
> Out
>  

I don't think the track goes as far as Gasco but does to the first crossing north of there.  You're right about the rear wheel drive cars!  I'm surprised at how many Mustangs are still used here as primary vehicles.

Wilber, NE; home of Wilber Wieners.

Very well done! It's endlessly fascinating how a given area can change without us noticing. And it's always the small incremental changes that sneak up on us...

Willie W