2014 1Q

A fresh crew has boarded a manifest train as the previous crew boards a van to head home, job done.

First train (for me) of 2014 is an intermodal inbound to UP's Dallas Intermodal Terminal just a couple miles away.

The low winter sun casts an orange glow on an intermodal train inbound to the Dallas Intermodal Terminal less than a mile away.

A faded C45ACCTE leads an intermodal train through sleepy Hutchins on the first day of 2014.

A New Years Day BNSF manifest train passes the Dallas skyline as it snakes south for Temple.

Two GP15-1s are at work moving cement hoppers through Browder Yard in West Dallas. The lead Geep sports the newest UP paint scheme while fading paint on 649 reveals Mopac blue. UPY 649 also carries the North Little Rock lettering font, an unusual (for UP) all weather window, white painted truck spring ends, and a big dent in the center of the plow. Note the different springs used on each locomotive.

Anintermodal train pauses at a red signal before proceeding the last few miles to UP's Dallas Intermodal Terminal in southern Dallas County.

Three gensets in three different paint schemes team up on a transfer manifest heading to UP's Miller Yard.

Two GP38-2s are heading to chemical plants in South Dallas to exchange tank cars before returning home.

Recently reactivated and dead in tow on a southbound UP freight. This locomotive still wears the as delivered paint and looks rather shabby.

Four Norfolk Southern GE diesels lead a UP stack train through Downtown Dallas heading for Los Angeles.

A new SD70ACe leads another BNSF diesel and a patched Southern Pacific AC44CW on a loaded coal train through Fort Worth.

A new ACe leads a BNSF coal train south through Fort Worth.

A single SD70MAC gives a push to a loading coal train moving south through Fort Worth.

A GP38-2 leads a SD60 on flat switching in Ney Yard. The cab of 540 is unoccupied as the crew is back in the yard pulling pins.

Two BNSF GE diesels lead a stack train north into Fort Worth.

A recently reactivated SD60 undergoes maintenance in Davidson Yard. Note the red flag on the handrail.

A former Chicago & Northwestern idles in Davidson Yard with Ferromex locomotives providing a backdrop. Note the hatch open near the exhaust stack.

A scorched former Chicago & Northwestern C44-9W idle in Davidson Yard. Note the placement of "UNION PACIFIC" which is higher and towards the rear of the hood as well as the use of early and late trucks.

A southbound BNSF intermodal train with a smoky C40-8W assisting moves through Tower 55 Interlocker.

A southbound intermodal train takes a siding while waiting for another intermodal to pass before continuing to Houston.

A recently reactivated C40-8W wearing faded Warbonnet paint and a bright orange replacement HVAC unit is helping out on an intermodal train.

A dirty C45ACCTE wearing two different numberboards pushes a manifest train uphill into Fort Worth.

A battered quartet of C44-9Ws rolls light through North Fort Worth. UP's C44-9W fleet is battered and bruised and rumor has it retirements may not be too far off. After years of deferred maintenance maybe it's for the best.

A GP40-2 idles with a GP38-3 in Fort Worth & Western's Hodge Yard. FWWR 2009 was originally delivered as St. Louis Southwestern (SSW) GP40-2 7250 in October 1984 and FWWR 2006 was originally delivered as Baltimore & Ohio GP40 3731 in April 1969 but has been rebuilt into a GP38-3 for FWWR.

This SW1200 has worked at the Chaparran Steel plant in nearby Midlothian for the past few years along side two other SW1200s. Chaparral was purchased by Gerdau which brought in new gensets leaving the EMDs unemployed. The three former Chaparral EMDs are travelling under NREX reporting marks but have been sitting in BNSF Alliance Yard for nearly a month, perhaps!these guys are homeless? Note the SP light stalk still intact on the cab.

This SW1200 has worked at thf Chaparral Steel plant in nearby Midlothian for the past few years along side two other SW1200s. Chaparral was purchased by Gerdau which brought in new gensets leaving the EMDs-unemployed. The three former Chaparral EMDs are travelling under NREX reporting marks but have been sitting in BNSF Alliance Yard for nearly a month, perhaps these guys are homeless?

Fresh out of the General Electric Fort Worth plant is this ES44C4 out stretching her legs for a bit before being delivered to BNSF. Brand new locomotives just look"fantastic, I rarely come up to this part of Fort Worth but today I was rewarded with the first of four ES44C4s emerging from the factory ready for delivery.

A quartet of ES44C4s are given some final checks at the GE Fort Worth plant before delivery to BNSF.

Friday afternoon at the GE Fort Worth plant and a quartet of ES44C4s are being readied for delivery.

A quartet of ES44C4s are given some final checks at the GE Fort Worth plant before delivery to BNSF.

An SD40N/SD40-2 team up to move a cut of cars in Davidson Yard. UP power looks great when wearing fresh Armor Yellow and Harbor Mist Gray.

A remotely controlled GP38-2 works with an SD60 flat switching covered hoppers in Ney Yard.

Still employed with the railroad that ordered it, UP 540 is flat switching in Ney Yard along with another locomotive originally ordered and still employed by UP.

An SD70ACe leading a manifest train overtakes a GP38-2/SD60 duo flat switching in Ney Yard.

A freshly painted GP38-2 rolls through Fort Worth trailing UP power on a UP train. This locomotive was delivered to Baltimore & Ohio as GP40 3774 in March 1971 becoming CSX 6549 until departing the roster. This locomotive was rebuilt as a detubocharged GP38-2 but retaining the three cooling fans of the GP40. Note the updated paint scheme now includes the GATX web site address.

A former Burlington Northern/BNSF SW1000 works the grain elevator along side BNSF North Yard. Looks like new brake shoes will be needed very soon.

An ES40DC from Norfolk Southern leads a UP unit auto rack train through Browder Yard heading for nearby Arlington.

Two former Mopac EMDs lead a short local through Downtown Dallas.

Two GEs from Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern leads a mixed freight through Downtown Dallas.

Two former Mopac Geeps exchange cars in Cadiz Yard near Downtown Dallas.

A dirty C45ACCTE working as a DPU on a manifest freight is in need of a bath as it moves south through Downtown Dallas.

When this locomotive was delivered to Mopac as 1572 it had a hood mounted bell where the dynamic brake blister is normally location. All that remains now is a small horizontal scar after the bell was placed under the frame.

An intermodal train led by an SD70ACe leading and one at the rear as the DPU pauses for a crew change in South Dallas.

A lone SD70ACe leads an intermodal train west towards California through South Dallas.

A lone SD70ACe leads an intermodal train west towards California through South Dallas.

An SD70ACe leading and another at the rear move an intermodal train through South Dallas.

A single ACe pushes a stack train under the Dallas Convention Center 'tunnel' in Downtown Dallas. The ball in the distance is the recently reopened Reunion Tower, expect to see photos I take from up there on here sometime soon.

A very dirty P42DC brings the Texas Eagle into Dallas Union Terminal for an on time arrival.

Two Geeps and a caboose layover in Browder Yard over the weekend in West Dallas. LLPX 2288 was originally delivered to Penn Central, UPY 649 to Mopac, and the caboose to Southern Pacific.