Sunday morning once I got out of the motel I started listening to the UP Austin Sub dispatcher. He was talking to the BNSF 6477 North that was approaching Round Rock, so being in north Austin I was already behind in the game. As this was an SD45-2, I quickly headed out in pursuit towards Taylor. The BNSF 6477 North turned out to be a five unit light engine movement that I ovetook at Hestes where it was stopped on the main next to an also northbound UP merchandise train in the hole. I drove on up towards Taylor and just west of town found a southbound train backing into the yard and causing the delay. Behind its unremarkable UP units and dead in consist was the SP 8283, a hulk of an SD40T-2 that was obviously on its way to or from a deadline somewhere.
Once the southbound had cleared up in the yard, the BNSF 6477 North was allowed to proceed out of Hestes, and I caught the units running about 40mph at the County Road 401 crossing.
The 6477 was leading a lashup totaling three SD45-2’s and two SD40-2’s, all looking good despite their age.
The BNSF 6866 was bringing up the rear as these units headed into Taylor and then north on the Waco Sub towards Temple.
I figured Amtrak 22 would probably be next northbound overtaking the UP merchandise train still at Hestes, but I was wrong.
