FL9

As the Flatonia Local was backing into the yard, at 10:21 am the nose of KCS 4004 North appeared through the trees.

(Read on …)

After shooting the UP 3939 eastbound passing Tower 3, we moved to Tommy Shults’ house one block east of the diamond on the south side of the Glidden Sub.  The local based at Flatonia works in all four directions every day except Saturday, and at 9:19 am we observed him heading north out of the yard on the Cuero Sub to switch a local industry as the conductor clings to the side of the last car.  The Flatonia railfan platform is visible in front of the UP 1887.

(Read on …)

Sunday morning February 18th Judy and I got up before dawn and headed down to the railfan platform in Flatonia, Texas.  The sky was going to be mainly clear, and I was ready to meet Tommy Shults and spend the day photographing around the platform while learning how it and the rail park came to be.  Here is a copy of the map from the brochure regarding the platform for those not familiar with the area and the crossing of the UP’s Glidden and Cuero Subdivisions.  As with all photos here, just click on it to see the larger version.

(Read on …)

After leaving the empty BNSF Rock Train behind at Holland, we drove on south down the Waco Sub through Taylor, and then a few miles south of town a northbound headlight announced an empty UP coal train.

(Read on …)