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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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