After the Christmas eve snowstorm it was still white everywhere on Christmas day, but no trains were moving. While at home on December 26th the first train I heard over the radio on the Baird Sub was the MFWWC asking permission to leave Davidson Yard around 11:30am. Since the sky was now cloudless I drove out to Aledo to see if I could find any remaining snow. There were only a small amount left in the park next to city hall, so I worked it into the picture when the UP 7704 West arrived a few minutes later.
One-hundred-sixteen cars followed the three units up front, and two more units were on the rear in DPU mode.
Later in the day while Judy and I were out running errands I spotted a westbound Hudson River sludge train in the new bypass at Davidson Yard with a clean-looking CSX unit on the point with its headlights on. I dropped her off at home and once again drove out to Aledo where I knew the light would be good. While on the way I heard the MFWEP getting permission to leave behind the dirt train. About fifteen minutes after I arrived and got into position, what turned out to be the CSX 526 West passed through downtown Aledo with the grain elevator as a backdrop.
Zooming out I captured a more broadside view of the two CSX and three UP units leading the train towards its destination in southeastern New Mexico.
I waited around and twenty minutes later the MFWEP came through town with an impressive six units up front, half UP and half CSX.
Once more I zoomed out for the broadside view of the UP 3960 West just before sunset on this cloudless day.
Looking west I took a going away shot with the old Aledo depot in the foreground.
After my long ordeal on the road Thursday afternoon driving home this evening was refreshingly easy.
