Out West 2018: Day 1 (West Omaha, NE-Maxwell, NE)
Author: Jacob Werling
This album features pictures of trains on my long trip out west between West Omaha, NE and Maxwell NE. This year for vacation my aunt, brother, and I are headed out to Yellowstone Nat. Park and other various stops along the way. We will be going through Nebraska, Colorodo, Wyoming, South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, and back). It was a fun trip! Enjoy!
Photo Gallery
UP 505 works with a small local outside the small yard in Valley, NE
UP 2693 sits with an eastbound manfiest switching crews outside of Fremont, NE
NS 9781 trails 3rd of 3 on the manifest
UP 5732 serves as mid train DPU on the manifest
UP 5329 leads a westbound UP intermodal through Fremont. When I got into town I noticed the increasingly rare SP patch engine 2nd so I knew I had to stop. Little did I know we wouldnt be able to find a parking spot in town. Thankfully I was able to get there in time to get this crap shot.
SP patch unit trails 2nd of 3 on the intermodal train
An eastbound coal drag decided to come into town while the stacks passed.
Thankfully the stacks cleared before the DPU showed up.
The DPU passes the Scoular Grain Elevator in Fremont. The blue and white GP30 they use sits quietly by the elevator.
The BNSF local sits in the small BNSF yard with a H1 geep and a H3 geep with the Con Agra Mills grain elevator in the background.
Closer shot
UPs Fremont local power sits quiety awaiting its next assignment in the packed yard.
BNSF 7749 leads an eastbound manifest into Fremont
An ex-executive SD70MAC trails on the eastbound manifest. BNSF has recently brought a lot of these out of storage due to surging traffic levels, so hopefully Ill see quite a few on my trip!
A trio of UP engine sit with a grain train on the ADM spur in Fremont. Since no one wanted to stop I had to shoot this train through the windshield, which was done frequently during this trip.
A dirty UP SD70ACe leads a speedy eastbound intermodal train by the Frontier Coop Grain elevator in North Bend, NE.
A much cleaner UP ACe takes up the rear on the intermodal train
The DPU passes the other silos behind me, which I also believe are owned by Frontier.
An ex-Belt Railway of Chicago GP7 is whats used to shuffle cars here at the elevator in North Bend. Quite a find! I believe this engine still retains its BRC reporting marks, but if it doesnt please correct me in the comments!
Framed
UP 4331 leads a small manifest/intermodal move east outside the small community of Duncan, NE. Dont ask why stupid me decided not to open the window for this shot.
A UP AC4400CW leads a load of cool power and an eastbound manifest across the Merrick County/Platte County Line outside the community of Silver Creek, NE
A SD60, SD60M, GP15-1, and GP38-2 all trail on the manifest. Would have loved to see that standard cab SD60 lead!
Another real find! A ex-CNW GP7R, but still retaining its CN&W classification, sits parked at the Frontier Coop elevator in Silver Creek. Once again, if these arent the correct reporting marks just let me know in the comments!
A Tier 4 ACe leads an eastbound coal drag outside of Clarks, NE
UP 8102 brings up the rear of the eastbound coal drag by a now defunct grain elevator. As you can see this was one of my more aggrivating shots.
UP 8502 leads another eastbound coal drag closer to Clarks
UP 7924 brings up the rear of the eastbound coal drag
A UP GEVO and UP ACe sit parked noses facing one another at the Gavilion Coop elevator outside of Clarks.
A solo UP GEVO sits with a concrete tie train on one of the 3 spurs for Gavilon Coop outside of Clarks.
A SW1200 marked for Debruce Grain Inc. is the power that is used to switch around cars at Gavilon.
Things were all quiet between Clarks and Grand Island. We made a stop at the end of the UP Yard to see what was going on. With it as warm is it was that day a lot of heat waves ended up in the photos, but I attempted to get what I could. I believe this is UP 628.
A coal trains DPU, a westbound manifest, and the UP local all line up in Grand Island Yard amongst the strong heat waves.
The local pulls up closer while the manifest finishes its recrew
A westbound UP intermodal screams west out of Grand Island while the manifest slowly creeps up on it, leaving as well.
The UP manifest slowly pulls out of Grand Island. Notice the intermodal trains mid train DPU on the far right, and the UP SD60M 2nd in the consist on the manifest. A UP Dash 9 is also out 3rd.
A UP ACe and a UP SD70M have the duty of mid train DPU on this intermodal tonight.
UP 8138 leads a pair of SD70Ms and an eastbound intermodal train outside of Wood River, NE
A UP SD70M and AC4400CW serve as mid train DPU on the intermodal
A completely green Cargill SW1200 sits patiently awaiting more cars to move at the Cargill Grain Elevator in Gibbon.
Another long gap of no trains, then we hit Lexington. My goal was to shoot the I&M Raillink switcher that they use for switching cars at the Gavilon elevator here. As soon as we drove into the parking lot, the eastbound UP Fruit Train zips by with a pair of SD70M leaders. Thankfully I was able to grab its mid train DPU, so its not a total loss.
Another one of the many cool switchers you can find at the elevators out here! Good to see this one again!
The Lexington Local power sits tied down on the Kent Coop lead.
The local power but with an acutally interesting backdrop
An eastbound UP autorack train passes MP 34 continuing its way into Lexington
A UP SD40N leads a UP GP38-2 and a SD70M east, closely following the heels of the autorack train, on an eastbound local. The conditions are just not ideal for eastbound trains this time of day.
A pair of UP AC4400CWs lead an eastbound coal train outside of Darr, NE. Another wonderful windshield shot :D
A UP SD70AH and a UP AC4400CW bring up the rear of the coal train.
A five unit manifest makes its way east outside of Willow Island, NE. Yet another windshield shot. If you can actually see, a UP SD60M triclops is 2nd out.
A UP caboose sits on display in Gothenburg.