On day 2 of my trip to the Powder River Basin in Wyoming I found myself at the iconic Logan Hill, the summit of BNSF's Orin Subdivision, from either side of this point on the line, tracks descend at a 1% or so grade on average, which is challenging for the heavy coal trains that traverse the line. Here the mainline is four tracks, though the furthest west main was used as storage for empty coal hoppers at this time. From both directions, both loaded and empty coal drags dramatically pull up the hill often in Notch-8, using every last horsepower in their locomotives. Today was busy, where both BNSF and UP were running lots of traffic into and out of the mines to the north. Aside from the BNSF and UP trains, an MRL locomotive made its way onto a BNSF loaded coal train, as they often find themselves in coal service due to the absorption of the MRL into the BNSF. Enjoy over two and a half hours of a coal hauling railroad drama that's not matched anywhere else!
Thanks for watching!
Train 1: BNSF C-NAMCXC0-49A
Head End:
BNSF 6103~ES44AC
BNSF 8499~SD70ACe
Rear End:
BNSF 8542~SD70ACe
Train 2: UP CWTJK 13
Head End:
UP 6430~C44ACM
UP 9614~C44ACM
Rear End:
UP 8576~SD70ACe
Train 3: UP CHLBM 11
Head End:
UP 7802~ES44AC / C45ACCTE
UP 7763~ES44AC / C45ACCTE
Rear End:
UP 5399~ES44AC / C45ACCTE
Train 4: UP CRDNA9 9
Head End:
UP 7428~ES44AC / C45ACCTE
UP 9034~SD70AH
Rear End:
UP 5866~AC4400CW / C44ACCTE
UP 6360~C44ACM
Train 5: UP COKNA9 10
Head End:
UP 3052~SD70ACe-T4
UP 8631~SD70ACe
Rear End:
UP 7080~AC4400CW / C44AC
UP 6458~C44ACM
Train 6: UP CCAWC 13
Head End:
UP 7996~ES44AC / C45ACCTE
UP 8973~SD70AH
Rear End:
UP 2567~ES44AH / C45AH
Train 7: UP CSNBM 12
Head End:
UP 8475~SD70ACe
UP 7786~ES44AC / C45ACCTE
Rear End:
UP 3072~SD70ACe-T4
UP 8258~ES44AH / C45AH
Train 8: BNSF E-SFABTM0-38A
Head End:
BNSF 9165~SD70ACe
BNSF 9086~SD70ACe
Rear End:
BNSF 9177~SD70ACe
Train 9: UP 2CNALW9 13
Head End:
UP 8044~ES44AC / C45ACCTE
UP 6826~AC4400CW / C44AC
Rear End:
UP 7417~ES44AC / C45ACCTE
UP 9650~C44ACM
Train 10: BNSF E-MOLDFM0-81A
Head End:
BNSF 3320~ES44ACH
BNSF 3319~ES44ACH
Rear End:
BNSF 3321~ES44ACH
Train 11: UP 2CSABM9 9
Head End:
UP 7384~ES44AC / C45ACCTE
UP 8197~ES44AH / C45AH
Rear End:
UP 2555~ES44AH / C45AH
UP 8779~SD70ACe
Train 12: BNSF C-NAMTHH0-93A
Head End:
BNSF 6434~ES44AC
BNSF 9056~SD70ACe
Rear End:
BNSF 6168~ES44AC
BNSF 9354~SD70ACe
Train 13: UP CWLNA9 12
Head End:
UP 8077~ES44AC / C45ACCTE
UP 9657~C44ACM
Rear End:
UP 2543~ES44AH / C45AH
UP 9069~SD70AH
Train 14: UP CWXBM9 12
Head End:
UP 8406~SD70ACe
UP 7492~ES44AC / C45ACCTE
Rear End:
UP 7460~ES44AC / C45ACCTE
Train 15: UP CCAGG 13
Head End:
UP 8878~SD70AH
UP 6658~AC4400CW / C44AC
Rear End:
UP 8937~SD70AH
UP 6328~AC4400CW / C44AC
Train 16: BNSF C-ATMPAM0-49A
Head End:
BNSF 3648~ET44ACH
BNSF 3303~ES44ACH
Rear End:
BNSF 3634~ET44ACH
BNSF 3669~ET44ACH
Train 17: BNSF C-BTMHOH0-05D
Head End:
BNSF 6407~ES44AC
MRL 4309~SD70ACe
Rear End:
BNSF 8749~SD70ACe
BNSF 8417~SD70ACe
Train 18: UP CBTWL9 13
Head End:
UP 6271~AC4400CW / C44AC
UP 5720~C44ACM
Rear End:
UP 6388~C44ACM
UP 5913~AC4400CW / C44ACCTE
Train 19: UP CNARD9 13
Head End:
UP 7428~ES44AC / C45ACCTE
UP 9034~SD70AH
Rear End:
UP 5866~AC4400CW / C44ACCTE
UP 6360~C44ACM
Train 20: BNSF C-NRMMHS0-07A
Head End:
BNSF 5835~ES44AC
BNSF 9894~SD70MAC
Rear End:
BNSF 5876~ES44AC
BNSF 9253~SD70ACe
Train 21: UP CNAOK9 13
Head End:
UP 3052~SD70ACe-T4
UP 8631~SD70ACe
Rear End:
UP 7080~AC4400CW / C44AC
UP 6458~C44ACM