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24 Hours at Tower 17, Rosenberg
1/14/04 - 1/15/04

Stephen Foyt
Austin/Houston, TX

 

This past Wednesday to Thursday, Julian and I successfully completed a "24 Hours" at Tower 17 – Rosenberg, cop-free and with plenty of trains. Just as a refresher, we did it the first time in November of 2002, had our second attempt cut short in April of 2003, and now have 24 Hours at Rosenberg #2 in the books from 1/14/03 to 1/15/03. We wanted to make sure we got this one in before the closing of Tower 17. The weather was less than desirable – anywhere from just cloudy to heavy rain, but what would a "24 Hours" be without crappy weather?

Wednesday 1/14/04:

My first train came as soon as I pulled up to Tower 17 to start my 24 Hours at 10:50 Wednesday morning:

10:50 Northbound on BNSF
ESLPCAM (HL&P-Smithers Lake, TX to Caballo Mine, WY)
BNSF 8812 (SD70MAC, H2), BNSF 8856 (SD70MAC, H2), UFIX empty coal hoppers, BNSF 9826 (SD70MAC, cream/green)

10:56 Westbound on UP
QHOWC (Settegast Yard-Houston, TX to West Colton, CA)
UP 9293 (C40-8), UP 4341 (SD70M), UP 4868 (SD70M)
GVSR/SSW boxes, SPGX LPG's, stuff, TEGX, bare tables, tanks, few pellets, RBOX boxes, tanks

11:05 Northbound on BNSF
XBNTWIC9 (Port of Beaumont, TX to Wichita, KS)
BNSF 819 (C40-8W, Warbonnet), BNSF 4915 (C44-9W, H2), BNSF empty grain hoppers

11:45 Eastbound on UP
RBMBD (Beckmann, TX to Bender, TX)
UP 3501 (SD40-2), SSW 9642 (GP60), UP 2848 (SD40-2T), UP 3109 (SD40-2)
GCCX loaded rock hoppers

12:40 West/North from UP to BNSF
SPTRLHA5 (PTRA-Barbours Cut, TX to Los Angeles, CA)
BNSF 4894 (C44-9W, H2), BNSF 4086 (C44-9W, H2), BNSF 4935 (C44-9W, H2)
Maersk/Tex/Triton/MSC/Safmarine/Cronos/Genstar/Capital/CAI stacks, tanktainers

13:01 West/North from UP to BNSF
RLNDT (Livingston, TX to Dittlinger, TX)
UP 1924 (GP60), UP 3824 (SD40-2)
WRRC empty rock gons

Julian comes rolling in around 13:10 to start his time on the clock.

13:14 Eastbound on UP
MWCEWX (Wes Colton, CA to Englewood Yard-Houston, TX)
UP 9198 (C40-8), UP 8571 (SD40-2), UP 4190 (SD70M)
RBOX/NS/CSX/TBOX boxes, new TILX Commercial Metals scrap gons, DOWX pellets, tanks, pellets, 1 TEGX, scattered SRN & IBT boxes

13:25 East/West on UP switching rocks
RRNBM (Rosenberg, TX to Beckmann, TX)
UP 8864 (SD40-2T), UP 3175 (SD40-2), UP 3507 (SD40-2)
GVSR loaded short rock hoppers, MBKX empty rock gons

The GVSR's were to be spotted at the Martin-Marietta plant and the MBKX empties were going back to Beckmann as RRNBM.

13:40 Northbound on BNSF
MGATSVL (Galveston, TX to Somerville, TX)
BNSF 6357 (SD40-2, blue/yellow), BNSF 4181 (C44-9W, H2), BNSF 7903 (SD40-2, BN green)
OCPX/FINX/CCBX pellets, GATX white tanks, LTCX argon refrig., pellets, GATX chlorine, CCBX tanks & pellets, LCIX CO2 tanks, NATX/PROX tanks, NRLX pellets

14:28 West/North from UP to BNSF
HHOUGAL9 (South Yard-Houston, TX to Galesburg, IL)
NS 9705 (C40-9W), BNSF 6845 (SD40-2, BN green), BNSF 5234 (C44-9W, H2)
AMCX/ELTX pellets, tanks, BNSF trailers, pellets, flats, RACX tanks; short

14:58 West/North from UP to BNSF
EMONBTM (Mossville, LA to Black Thunder Mine, WY)
BNSF 9810 (SD70MAC, cream/green), BNSF 9477 (SD70MAC, cream/green), BNSF 9796 (SD70MAC, cream/green)
EGSX empty coal hoppers

15:08 Eastbound on UP
ILBNO (ICTF-Long Beach, CA to CSX-New Orleans, LA)
UP 2280 (SD60M), UP 6174 (SD60M)
Tex/CAI/OOCL/Triton/Tiphook/APL/NOL/Uniglory/Evergreen/P&O Nedloyd/Interpool stacks

15:42 Westbound on UP
MHOEPX (Settegast Yard-Houston, TX to El Paso, TX)
UP 7893 (SD40-2R), UP 2893 (SD40-2T), SP 9706 (GP60)
tanks, ingot flats, SP/CSX/ASAB boxes, RUDX LPG's, IC/AGR boxes, steel plates, tanks, coke hoppers, ASAB/CIRR boxes

15:49 Southbound on BNSF
HSVLLAR (Somerville, TX to TFM-Laredo, TX)
BNSF 1076 (C44-9W, H1), BNSF 4491 (C44-9W, H2), BNSF 7013 (SD40-2, BN green)
NACS stacks, ETTX ld. autoracks, BNSF boxes, ATSF brown cov.hoppers, BNSF boxes, ASHX soda ash (lots), IPBX/PBFX tallow, more ASHX, FCCM boxes, KYLE grain

15:58 Southbound on BNSF
LGFC191 "Rosenberg Local"
BNSF 2782 (GP39-2, blue/yellow)

15:59 Westbound on UP
LHT42 "Sugar Land Switcher"
CEFX 1501 (GP15D), CEFX 1503 (GP15D), CEFX 1510 (GP15D)
2 lumber, 1 grain, 1 rock, 1 rice car

16:10 West/North from UP to BNSF
RSDOG (Stafford, TX to Ogden, TX)
UP 2086 (GP60), UP 9836 (SD50), GCFX 6063 (SD40-2, gray/orange/white)
SP/MKT/CNW/UP/MP/GONX empty rock gons

16:24 Westbound on UP
QAVWC (Avondale, LA to West Colton, CA)
UP 4014 (SD70M), CSXT 8202 (SD40-2), UP 3143 (SD40-2)
SP boxes, pellets, tanks, KCS/ALM boxes, pellets, stuff, FP/SRN boxes, DGHX cov.hoppers, CSX boxes, USBX cov.hoppers

16:35 Westbound on UP
IEWLC (Englewood Yard-Houston, TX to LATC-Los Angeles, CA)
UP 9110 (C40-8), UP 9465 (C41-8W)
NOL/EMP/APL stacks

16:38 Eastbound on UP
LHT42 "Sugar Land Switcher"
CEFX 1510 (GP15D), CEFX 1503 (GP15D), CEFX 1501 (GP15D)
2 lumber

17:06 West/North from UP to BNSF
UDYTKTX (Dayton, TX to Kerr, TX)
BNSF 6797 (SD40-2, BN green), BNSF 8092 (SD40-2, BN green), BNSF 8018 (SD40-2, H1), BNSF 6781 (SD40-2, H1)
GRR Dump Train, GRR empty rock gons

17:59 Southbound on BNSF
GCCDGAT9 (Concordia, KS to Galveston, TX)
BNSF 5481 (C44-9W, H2), BNSF 7310 (SD40-2, H1), BNSF 5252 (C44-9W, H2)
BNSF loaded grain hoppers

18:18 Westbound on UP
AJAMXJ (KCS-Jackson, MS to TFM-Laredo, TX)
KCS 682 (SD40-2) lead engine
Canada/IC/CN grain (lots), IHB coils, CCBX pellets, clay slurry, BCOL box, NS boxes

18:23 South/East from BNSF to UP
HAMAPTR (Amarillo, TX to PTRA-Houston, TX)
BNSF 729 (C44-9W, Warbonnet), ATSF 639 (C44-9W, Warbonnet), BNSF 7919 (SD40-2, BN green)
UTLX/PROX/DBUX black tanks (lots), pellets, DBUX/GATX/PROX/UTLX black tanks

18:32 Northbound on BNSF
XGATMNS9 (Galveston, TX to Marion, SD)
BNSF 1068 (C44-9W, H1), BNSF 7264 (SD40-2, H1), ATSF 631 (C44-9W, Warbonnet)
BNSF empty grain hoppers

18:45 Northbound on BNSF
HCPSTPL (Corpus Christi, TX to Temple, TX)
BNSF 4401 (C44-9W, H2), BNSF 9945 (SD70MAC, H2)
RBOX boxes, UTLX tanks, BNSF boxes, GATX tanks, RBOX boxes, 3 tallow, 2 ATSF boxes, LW gon scrap

18:58 Westbound on UP
RBDBM (Bender, TX to Beckmann, TX)
UP 3313 (SD40-2), UP 2685 (SD40-2T), UP 3165 (SD40-2), UP 2264 (SD60M), UP 1977 (GP60, SP paint)
TRIX/GCCX empty rock hoppers

Sonic break. No, we didn't miss anything.

20:30 Eastbound on UP
QWCEW (West Colton, CA to Englewood Yard-Houston, TX)
UP 4946 (SD70M), UP 9717 (C44-9W), UP 9835 (SD50)
TEGX (lots), GATX tanks, pellets, pipes, TEGX, KCS boxes, FPAX pellets, grain lumber, DGHX cov.hoppers, DOWX glycols & chlorine, MP boxes, CPDX LPG's, FCCM boxes, KRL 8-axle flats, LPG's (lots) & some sulfuric acid

20:38 South/East from BNSF to UP
RKRBP (Kerr, TX to Bayport, TX)
UP 2277 (SD60M), TFM 2616 (AC4400CW)
GRR loaded rock gons

21:07 South/East from BNSF to UP
ROGSP (Ogden, TX to Spring, TX)
UP 3620 (SD40-2), UP 3807 (SD40-2), UP 3253 (SD40-2)
SP/WP/GVSR/DRGW/SPTX loaded rock hoppers

21:19 Northbound on BNSF
MHOUTPL (South Yard-Houston, TX to Temple, TX)
BNSF 966 (C44-9W, H2), BNSF 6383 (SD40-2)
transformer, ALM box, BNSF trailers, BN/BNSF grain (lots), GCCX sand, NACS trailers, stuff, BNSF grain

21:40 Westbound on UP
INOLB (CSX-New Orleans, LA to ICTF-Long Beach, CA)
UP 9652 (C44-9W), CSXT 7710 (C40-8W)
APL/NOL/Tex/Cronos/Evergreen/Uniglory/K-Line/Cosco/Hanjin/China Shipping/OOCL/MOL/Matson stacks

Around 22:00 a cop car comes driving down the dirt on the south side of the tower where we were parked. My heart jumped into my throat. Much to our surprise, he slowed as he approached, then just kept driving. That was the most we ever saw of the famed Rosenberg cops that night. It was actually kind of disappointing.

22:15 Southbound on BNSF
PCLONWO (Clovis, NM to New Orleans, LA)
BNSF 4669 (C44-9W, H2), BNSF 5242 (C44-9W, H2), ATSF 846 (C40-8W, Warbonnet)
SLC/BNFE reefers, CELX tanks, OOCL/Hyundai/Tex/Triton/CMA- CGM/NYK/CAI/Genstar/NACS/MOL/Yang Ming stacks, few trailers

22:20 Westbound on UP
AMTK #1 Sunset Limited, AMTK 47 (Acela paint), AMTK 12 (Acela paint)
Superliner p-cars

22:43 Westbound on UP
MHOSA (Settegast Yard-Houston, TX to Sosan Yard-San Antonio, TX)
UP 9190 (C40-8), UP 9540 (C44-9W)
TEGX, ALM boxes, tanks, GVSR/UP/KCS boxes, NS powder, TEGX, OAR boxes, CSX Coke Express, TFM gons, TILX LPG's

23:03 South/East from BNSF to UP
RDTLN (Dittlinger, TX to Livingston, TX)
UP 6196 (SD60M), UP 2375 (SD60M), UP 5643 (B40-8), UP 1971 (GP60)
WRRC loaded rock gons

23:23 Eastbound on UP
MLDEW (Port Laredo, TX to Englewood Yard-Houston, TX)
UP 8140 (SD9043MAC), UP 6412 (AC4400CW), UP 2467 (SD60M)
TTGX ld. autoracks, UTLX tanks, RBOX boxes, pellets, UTLX tanks, TEGX (lots), AOK, IC/SRN/RBOX boxes

Thursday 1/15/03:

00:40 Westbound on UP
IATCI (CSX-Atlanta, GA to City of Industry, CA)
CSXT 7849 (C40-8W), UP 9765 (C44-9W), UP 4400 (SD70M)
4 Tropicana reefers, CSX/APL/Pacer stacks, bare tables

00:50 South/East from BNSF to UP
SCLOPTR3 (Clovis, NM to PTRA-Barbours Cut, TX)
BNSF 4942 (C44-9W, H2), BNSF 4763 (C44-9W, H2), BNSF 1050 (C44-9W, H1)
Maersk/Triton/Tex/Capital/Cronos/CAI/Interpool stacks

01:02 Northbound on BNSF
ESLPCAM (HL&P-Smithers Lake, TX to Caballo Mine, WY)
BNSF 9727 (SD70MAC, cream/green), BNSF 9483 (SD70MAC, cream/green)
UFIX empty coal hoppers
BNSF 9935 (SD70MAC, H2)

01:50 Southbound on BNSF
GFTWGAT9 (Ft. Worth, TX to Galveston, TX)
BNSF 964 (C44-9W, H1), BNSF 779 (C44-9W, Warbonnet), BNSF 887 (C40-8W, Warbonnet)
BNSF loaded grain hoppers

02:05 Southbound on BNSF
VKCKPEA (Argentine Yard-Kansas City, KS to Pearland, TX)
FURX 8106 (SD40-2, BN green), FURX 8100 (SD40-2, H1)
BNSF/AOK artic. autoracks, ETTX/TTGX autoracks, EJE pipe, JB Hunt stacks, Hyundai stacks, few trailers

02:45 South/East from BNSF to UP
MTPLLAL (Temple, TX to Lafayette, LA)
BNSF 6470 (SD45-2, blue/yellow), BNSF 8079 (SD40-2, BN green)
BNSF ballast (lots), ATSF grain, ELTX/OCPX/TILX pellets, UTLX tanks incl. LPG's, CSX sand, pellets, BNSF sand, 2 NS boxes

02:55 Northbound on BNSF
VPEAALT (Pearland, TX to Alliance, TX)
BNSF 4899 (C44-9W, H2), BNSF 7236 (SD40-2, H1), BNSF 2188 (GP38X, BN green)
Maersk/Tex stacks, tanktainers, NACS/CMA-CGM/Allied/OOCL/JB Hunt/Hanjin/Hapag Loyd/MSC stacks, REAZ/BNSF/Xtra/Redon trailers, TTGX empty autoracks (lots), bare tables

04:10 Eastbound on UP
IOAHO (Oakland, CA to Settegast Yard-Houston, TX)
UP 9747 (C44-9W), UP 3023 (SD40-2)
K-Line/Cosco/MOL/Tex/Triton/NOL/Linea Mexicana/EMP/Stax stacks

04:20 South/East from BNSF to UP
RHTCD (Hunter, TX to Cleveland, TX)
UP 3285 (SD40-2), UP 3366 (SD40-2)
UP/MP/CNW/GONX/MKT/GVSR/SP loaded rock gons

04:43 Southbound on BNSF
HSVLLAR (Somerville, TX to TFM-Laredo, TX)
BNSF 4181 (C44-9W, H2), BNSF6357 (SD40-2, blue/yellow), CSXT 7905 (C40-8W)
CFMX/NAHX cov.hoppers, CCBX/NRLX/ACFX pellets, BNSF gons (lots), EEC/BNSF boxes, tallow, BN beams, pellets, phosphoric acid, BN boxes

05:03 South/East from BNSF to UP
RKRGB (Kerr, TX to Grayburg, TX)
UP 3141 (SD40-2), UP 2944 (SD40-2T)
GRR loaded rock gons

05:28 Southbound on BNSF
GNENLAR9 (Brunswick, NE to TFM-Laredo, TX)
BNSF 4075 (C44-9W, H2), ATSF 930 (C40-8W, Warbonnet), BNSF 4171 (C44-9W, H2)
BN/BNSF/FURX/AOK loaded grain hoppers

05:36 Eastbound on UP
RBXGP (Brauntex, TX to Galena Park, TX)
UP 3540 (SD40-2) lead engine
GCCX/SPTX loaded rock hoppers

05:45 Southbound on BNSF
GLRXCPS9 (Lariat, TX to Corpus Christi, TX)
BNSF 4098 (C44-9W, H2), BNSF 786 (C44-9W, Warbonnet), BNSF 5452 (C44-9W, H2)
BN/BNSF loaded grain hoppers

06:17 Westbound on UP
MHOEG (Settegast Yard-Houston, TX to FXE-Eagle Pass, TX)
UP 1986 (GP60), UP 1956 (GP60), UP 1930 (GP60)
scrap, DRGW/UP/MP/CHTT/CNW coke (lots), RBOX/CSX boxes, grain, AMCX pellets (lots), CSX Coke Express (lots)

06:25 South/East from BNSF to UP
UCFSMAR (Cliffstone, TX to Martin Lake, TX)
BNSF 4449 (C44-9W, H2), BNSF 7508 (SD45-2B, blue/yellow)
TUGX loaded rock hoppers
BNSF 4013 (C44-9W, H2)

06:54 Eastbound on UP
ALDLI !!! (Port Laredo, TX to Livonia, LA)
FURX 3012 (SD40-2, green/silver), GCFX 6075 (SD40-2, gray/orange/white)
FCCM/HS/SRN boxes, pellets, TTGX ld. autoracks, COCX tanks, CCBX pellets, CSX cov.hoppers, IC gons, stuff, boxes

07:02 Northbound on BNSF
SHOULAC (Pearland, TX to LATC-Los Angeles, CA)
BNSF 870 (C40-8W, Warbonnet), BNSF 7865 (SD40-2), BNSF 717 (C44-9W, Warbonnet)
MOL/OOCL/Hyundai/Yang Ming/Triton/Tex/NYK/Hapag Loyd/NACS/JB Hunt/CAI/Cronos stacks, tanktainers

07:35 East/West on UP switching rocks
RRNRN (Rosenberg, TX to Rosenberg, TX)
UP 8864 (SD40-2T), UP 3175 (SD40-2)
GVSR short loaded rock hoppers

ZZZZZZZZZMZZZZZZWZZZZZCZZZZZZZZKZZZZZZZBZZZZZZZZ

08:01 Eastbound on UP
ZAPAT (APL-Long Beach, CA to CSX-Atlanta, GA)
UP 4641 (SD70M) lead engine
4 Tropicana reefers, CSX/APL/Pacer stacks, Evergreen/NOL/Hanjin/OOCL/Cosco/Matson stacks

08:37 Southbound on BNSF
MTPLGAT (Temple, TX to Galveston, TX)
BNSF 4148 (C44-9W, H2), BNSF 7884 (SD40-2), BNSF 7200 (SD40-2)
UTLX/NATX/ACFX/CCBX tanks, LCIX CO2 refrig., EQUX pellets, bare tables, BNSF gons

09:22 Southbound on BNSF
CJRMSLP (Jacobs Ranch Mine, WY to HL&P-Smithers Lake, TX)
BNSF 5632 (AC4400CW, H2), BNSF 9418 (SD70MAC, cream/green)
UFIX loaded coal hoppers
BNSF 9981 (SD70MAC, H2)

09:26 Northbound on BNSF
LGFC191 "Rosenberg Local"
BNSF 2782 (GP39-2, blue/yellow)

09:56 Westbound on UP
IEWLBB (Englewood Yard-Houston, TX to ICTF-Long Beach, CA)
UP 4946 (SD70M) lead engine
China Shipping/K- Line/P&O/Cosco/Matson/Triton/NOL/APL/Tiphook/Cronos/Genstar/Tex/Hanjin
stacks

10:25 East/West on UP switching rocks
RRNRN (Rosenberg, TX to Rosenberg, TX)
UP 8864 (SD40-2T), UP 3175 (SD40-2)
GVSR empty short rock hoppers

10:38 Southbound on BNSF
LGFC191 "Rosenberg Local"
BNSF 2782 (GP39-2, blue/yellow)
2 boxes, lumber, tanks, FCTX/EQUX pellets

My 24 hours ended at 10:50 with 63 train movements. I stayed longer to finish out with Julian, and because the next few hours would be really busy.

11:25 West/North from UP to BNSF
RDPDT (Dallerup Yard-Houston, TX to Dittlinger, TX)
UP 2356 (SD60M), UP 6326 (SD60M), UP 9850 (SD50, DRGW paint), UP 2834 (SD40-2T)
WRRC empty rock hoppers

More Sonic.

12:05 South/East from BNSF to UP
RDTDP (Dittlinger, TX to Dallerup Yard-Houston, TX)
UP 2948 (SD40-2T), UP 8665 (SD40-2T), UP 3383 (SD40-2), UP 3662 (SD40-2), UP 2937 (SD40-2T), UP 3404 (SD40-2), UP 2081 (GP60)
WRRC loaded rock hoppers

12:47 Westbound on UP
QHOWCX (Settegast Yard-Houston, TX to West Colton, CA)
UP 2002 (SD70M, Olympic Torch Unit), UP 5108 (SD70M)
SRN/UP/GVSR/RBOX boxes, pellets, boxes, LPG's, boxes, CRLE/SSW/GVSR cov.hoppers

13:00 Westbound on UP
LHT47 "Eagle Lake Switcher"
CEFX 1501 (GP15D)
2 Lissie rice hoppers

13:10 Southbound on BNSF
GMTOPTR9 (Milton, ND to PTRA-Houston, TX)
BNSF 4795 (C44-9W, H2), BNSF 6714 (SD40-2), BNSF 4502 (C44-9W, H2)
BN/BNSF loaded grain hoppers

Julian finished his 24 Hours with 62 train movements.

13:15 Westbound on UP
LHT42 "Sugar Land Switcher"
CEFX 1502 (GP15D), CEFX 1510 (GP15D)
3 tanks, 1 lumber

13:24 Northbound on BNSF
MGATSVL (Galveston, TX to Somerville, TX)
BNSF 779 (C44-9W, Warbonnet), BNSF 964 (C44-9W, H1)
pellets, tanks, EQUX pellets, LCIX CO2 refrig., tanks, EQUX pellets (lots), CCBX pellets, AMCX tanks

13:30 West/North from UP to BNSF
HHOUGAL9 (South Yard-Houston, TX to Galesburg, IL)
ATSF 639 (C44-9W, Warbonnet), BNSF 729 (C44-9W, Warbonnet), BNSF 7919 (SD40-2, BN green)
ELTX pellets, isoprene, flats, stuff, AMCX pellets; short

13:41 West/North from UP to BNSF
RSDMN (Stafford, TX to AUAR-McNeil, TX)
UP 3297 (SD40-2), UP 2080 (GP60)
CHTT empty rock hoppers

13:50 Eastbound on UP
MWCEWX (West Colton, CA to Englewood Yard-Houston, TX)
UP 5609 (B40-8), UP 5680 (B40-8), UP 9116 (C40-8)
FXE cement, sulfuric acid, RBOX boxes, stuff, pellets, pipe, pellets, MBLX tanks, LPG's, glycol, pellets, DOWX chlorine & other tanks

14:04 Eastbound on UP
LHT42 "Sugar Land Switcher"
CEFX 1510 (GP15D), CEFX 1502 (GP15D)
2 grain, 1 lumber, 3 tanks

14:35 Westbound on UP
QHOWC (Settegast Yard-Houston, TX to West Colton, CA)
UP 5038 (SD70M), UP 4362 (SD70M), UP 4010 (SD70M), UP 9498 (C41-8W)
GVSR boxes, transformer, tanks, LPG's, sulfuric acid, TEGX, LPG's, ASTX acid, gons, CCBX pellets, SRN boxes, tanks

14:50 South/East from BNSF to UP
HAMAPTR (Amarillo, TX to PTRA-Houston, TX)
BNSF 1112 (C44-9W, H1), NS 9766 (C40-9W), BNSF 7804 (SD40-2, BN green), BNSF 7038 (SD40-2, BN green)
DBUX/PLMX tanks, few pellets & tanks; short

15:01 Eastbound on UP
RGWMY (Garwood, TX to Melendy, TX)
UP 2707 (SD40-2M, SP paint), UP 2906 (SD40-2T)
SPTX/GCCX loaded rock hoppers

We felt the rock train was a fitting one to end on, so we put an end to the extended 24 Hours. Since I was there the longest, in my 28.5 hours I saw 77 train movements past Tower 17 for an average of 2.7 trains per hour. That's not a bad day.

Here is a breakdown of the action:

AMTK – 1
KCS/TM – 1
BNSF – 34
UP – 41

UP really likes to haul rocks around. We saw a total of 19 rock trains! We happened to pick the day that every rock train in existence decided to run. Trains that would have normally gone through Valley Jct went through here instead, greatly padding our train count. I'm not complaining though. BNSF was heavy on the grain side of things. They ran a total of 8 grain trains. We should have seen more than 1 Tex-Mex. Lately there's been anywhere from 3-5 a day. We saw pretty much every regular train we should have seen, except UP trains ILBEW, IEWLB (which doesn't run much anymore), and ILCHO (which doesn't come on Wednesdays or Thursdays).

While I headed straight for the house, Julian decided it would be only fitting to catch one more BNSF grain train and one more UP rock train.

15:22 Northbound at Booth on BNSF Galveston Sub
XCPSGNE9 (Corpus Christi, TX to Gurley, NE)
UP 6565 (AC4400CW)
BN empty grain hoppers

16:13 Westbound at Missouri City on UP Glidden Sub
RTCKR (Texas City, TX to Kerr, TX)
UP 3154 (SD40-2), UP 8616 (SD40-2T)
GRR empty rock gons

Tower 17 never disappoints.

Anyone who actually read this far must have been REALLY interested.

Stephen Foyt
Austin/Houston, TX



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