Catch Three Then the Prize

After a brief stint of rail photography on the morning of February 15th I went back home and got a few chores done. I was ready to get out again in the afternoon so I checked with the FWWR dispatcher and learned the Dublin train would run as a Cresson Turn called at 4:00pm. I left the house just after 4:00pm with a decision I wanted to catch the train crossing the Clear Fork of the Trinity in Forest Park. Over the radio I heard the train show out of Hodge Yard about 4:30pm, but then fate intervened when BNSF DS22 told the FWWR 2016 they would have to wait on three southbound BNSF trains leaving Saginaw before they could cross Tower 60.

I contemplated sitting along the banks of the Trinity for at least an hour with nothing to show for it but one shot, or taking a risk and going after the three southbounds in good light and then making it back for the FWWR photo in the park. The spirit of adventure won out so I drove on over to the dead end west of the tracks at East Annie Street south of Tower 55. I put on the 100-400mm zoom and at 4:55pm took these two views of a loaded grain train with the BNSF 609 up front in faded warbonnet.

On the radio right behind him was the BSNF 6204 South, and I figured this to be a loaded coal train. Wanting a different location I moved further south to the closed crossing at South Jennings Avenue just north of the Birds siding. At 5:15pm I squeezed off this view of what indeed was a coal load with a GEVO and an SD70MAC up front.

The sun was starting to get low, so I passed on a shot of the DPU’s and used the time to find a spot that was still lit on the west side of the tracks at Berry Street for the third BNSF train. I had the time as DS22 had just told the FWWR 2016 they would now have to wait on Amtrak 822 to pass Tower 60 before they would get the signal. This final southbound for the evening turned out to be a merchandise train that I recorded at 5:36pm with lengthening shadows.

I drove back to my chosen spot on the south bank of the Trinity across from Forest Park with a few minutes to spare. When the FWWR 2016 South came by at 5:54pm there was still be some direct light on the side of the train.

All four SD40’s were on the train and I was happy with the resulting shot as the ex-UP unit was partially blocked from view by the bridge. I thought I was going to get skunked on my original goal but instead President’s Day turned out very well. The 3252 is supposed to be repainted as the FWWR 2018 this summer, so soon all the units will be in a common paint scheme.