Connell, WA

BNSF 5146 leading a double header auto-rack consist north through Connell between the at-grade crossings under clear blue skies.

BNSF 6644 leading a group into the northern Connell at-grade crossing.

BNSF 716 war bonnet face portrait at speed coming through Connell - get em while you can, the side has already splashed BNSF over the Santa Fe text - this Dash9-44CW currently keeps her nose art intact, but for how long is anyones guess.

BNSF 716 leading a mixed freight in the shifting light of the setting sun. Semi-poetic with the fading war bonnets, changing side texts, erasing the Santa Fe. Any bets that by 2023 the SF will be sliced off as well with each repaint? Saves 50% on your lettering budget - "Dear Mr. Buffett, you may forward a small percentage of that savings on to me, at..."

CBRW 171 idling with CBRW 166 in the rising spur up off Connells sorting yard in late November.

CBRW 171 and CBRW 166 continue their patient wait in Connell, the hazy sunset sinks lower behind the rolling hills of the Palouse.

CBRW 171 and CBRW 166 with a more lateral image of the pair, who have more patience than I - dinner calls, so off I go to leave them to their sunset.

BNSF 1694 with BNSF 1778 working the Connell yard, having pulled this short string out enough to block both crossings.

BNSF 1114 along for the ride, empty oil-can drag at pusher position back to Montana through Connell north.

BNSF 4807 third out front on a loaded coal drag headed south, then likely further west to export terminals.

BNSF 4886 scoots through Connell at 6:15AM as the sun breaks the hills behind the elevator leading an empty covered hopper run north.

BNSF 5041 charging into Connell below the grain elevator with another load of coal. The sun just broke the hill behind the edge of the elevator - as chance would have it, right at headlight level.

BNSF 5095 and BNSF 9439 break through a cloud of dust (thanks, rail police) leaving this as the only salvageable shot around the corner into the first Connell at-grade crossing for this northbound mixed freight.

BNSF 5109 in second on a run of covered hoppers below the Connell grain elevator.

BNSF 6518 with visiting power CSX 5353 leaning around the first curve into Connell, cruising through with a light load of empty oil cans headed back to Montana and the oil-shale region.

BNSF 7805 entering the southern at-grade crossing in Connell pushing a mixed freight north.

Connell station in mid-morning sun sitting lonely, tracks long since removed.

BNSF 1109 - part of the double pusher for southbound (and eventually westbound... before northbound again!) oilcan through Connell.

BNSF 4684 leads 7811 into the last crossing at grade headed south through Connell, WA.

BNSF 5037 first of the double rear pushing units on an oil can headed south in Connell, WA.

BNSF 5422 leads her consist south through the southern-most curve departing Connell proper, heading out onto the Palouse toward Tri-Cities. (unfortunately all the previous shots showing individual motive power were blurred - one of the risks shooting prior to 6AM in late spring with hazy skies from a hill far above the tracks!)

BNSF 603 - last of the double pusher for southbound (and eventually westbound... before northbound again!) oilcan through Connell.

BNSF 6628 headed north through the last at grade crossings through Connell, WA... most likely leading an empty MOW Herzog set of open hoppers.

BNSF 6942 pushing from behind on the BNSF 4684-7811 consist, headed south, out of Connell into the Palouse.

BNSF 7040 - BNSF 4008 oilcan pass BNSF 7111 trailer train just north of the Connell yard.

BNSF 7040 and BNSF 4008 pull through the north curves leading into Connell - another oil can headed south.

BNSF 7040 and BNSF 4008 pull through the north curves leading into Connell - another oil can headed south.

BNSF 7040 leading an oilcan through sage and basalt south before heading west at the Columbia River

BNSF 7111 pulls a trailer-stack train north around the corner as the double pusher BNSF603-BNSF1109 of the southbound oil can finishes the corners.

BNSF 7406 leading visiting power NS 7511 pulling a mixed freight north up out of the north end of the main Connell yard. Coyote Ridge Penitentiary up on the hill beyond.

BNSF 7811 pulls at number two position behind lead BNSF 4684 just after clearing the southern most grade crossing in the south end of Connell, WA.

AMTK 180 slips through the north side of Connell, cruising through the yard switches with little deceleration.

BNSF 1070 pulling behind BNSF 749 clears the last at-grade crossing before chugging under the elevator headed north out of Connell.

BNSF 4086 and BNSF 921 puff a little harder entering the first south curve out of Connell with a grain train, sitting in number three and number two positions respectively, lead engine 5790 forgotten because of 921. (Youre in the front, they always get the glory; give the second and third chair a chance to shine!)

BNSF 5790 leaning into the curve, breaking south out of Connell, the sun clearing the hills, but still blocked by 6:00AM cloud cover.

BNSF 5962 pushes a (most likely empty) grain train north through the last at-grade crossing in Connell.

BNSF 6508 leads a trio with mixed freight as they near the northern at-grade crossing in Connell after finally getting the green a touch before five in the morning. The sun fighting to break the hills through morning mixed clouds. (Yes, the little camera was complaining, being pushed out in significant zoom, lowest possible f-stop, low light, ISO topping 1250 - narrow depth of field did result in some fuzzies (these & other 5AM shots that morning where it complained I was having to pan in the same conditions as the train approached/passed).

BNSF 6508 clears the last at-grade crossing a few seconds before five in the morning headed south out of Connell with a mixed freight. The sun just clearing the hills back to the right through somewhat scattered clouds.

BNSF 670 pulling second in line on an oil can headed south through Connells north crossing.

BNSF 749 gets the go as switching clears the main in slipping between the two at-grade crossings in Connell.

BNSF 7524 in lead with BNSF 4410 haul a trailer train / stack train consist through the north end of Connell, preparing to exit the yard area near the elevators at the first at-grade crossing a shave after 5:30 in the morning.

BNSF 7644 second in the lead trio lash-up of a southbound mixed freight, just clear of the last at-grade crossing in Connell, WA, headed out of town five oclock sharp in the AM.

BNSF 870, tired and faded idling as double pusher for a short set of empty Herzog MOW open hoppers. *Note: 870 is a guess - even enhancing other images, unable to accurately read the numbers.

BNSF 921 - okay, maybe I wont pan with that lead engine - instead focusing on number two in the southbound trio - a nice little war bonnet pulls out of the early morning sun reflections.

CBRW 171-12 slide along side BNSF 749 for a half-pass - moving up enough to clear the switches on the tailend, before reversing back up into the yard and unfouling the main.

CBRW 171 and CBRW 12 pull a line out with switching duty... into the main. Interesting time to do a swap with both northbound and southbound consists waiting to pass.

CBRW 171 and CBRW 12 continue yard duty - go ahead and make the big boys wait - gives them time to see more interesting livery.

CBRW 171 and CBRW 12 pull almost even with the grain elevator and switch line.

CBRW 171 and CBRW 12 backing it all back through the maze.