FL9

While the 8449 West changed crews at the depot, I set up my recorder 1/4 mile west on the other side of the Mulberry Street grade crossing about 75 feet back from the tracks.  The air was still, so wind noise was not going to be a problem today.  Click on this link to play the MP3 recording via your media player:

UP 8449 West Leaving Sweetwater, Texas

When he whistled off I started the recorder and quietly moved towards the track.  He blew for the crossing at the depot, and the gates at Mulberry Street came down before he started his horn sequence again.  I took this shot as he passed through the crossing.

The engineer was friendly and gave me a wave and two short blasts as he notched out the three SD70ACe’s and SD70M to handle the westbound grade out of town.  As the roar of the units died away to be replaced by the rumble of the well cars, I used the sound to cover my return to the recorder to shut it down.  Now it was time to head down to the depot for the last two westbounds.