On Saturday, December 29th I got up extra early and put on my long underwear so I could stand out on the catwalk around the top of the Crest Tower at Davidson Yard in the 21 degree cold for this creative sunrise shot over the shoulder of the yardmaster on duty.
After the sun got a little higher, on the way out of the yard I caught this view of the Herzog HZGX 186 dedicated power for one of their unit maintenance of way trains. I am not sure if this is really a GP38-2 in disguise or what without more research.
After picking my wife up to go back to Fort Worth for breakfast, we caught this westbound intermodal train just west of the west switch at Iona. With the sun behind the train I went for this broadside view of the UP 8466 West.
On New Year’s Eve on the way home from work I stopped near the house for this pastoral scene a few minutes after sunset.
After Judy got home we headed back to Fort Worth for dinner and I took the back road through Iona. We ran into a thick fog on top of the hill and found an eastbound merchandise train waiting on the main with a red signal at the east end of the siding. I cranked up the ISO to 12800 and a few minutes later the train got a green signal into Davidson Yard. I captured this view of the crossing gates coming down in the fog as my last photo of 2012.
I knew the UP would operate a reduced schedule for New Years Day 2013, so mid-morning when I heard an AMNLB autorack train get a green signal at the west end of Davidson yard I quickly drove to the overlook into the cut at the west end of the siding at Iona. The temperature was 40 degrees but the wind made it much more unpleasant, so I stayed in the Explorer until I heard a horn at the east end of Iona. I was fortunate that the sun came out just before the UP 7363 running solo filled the viewfinder.
There were two new KCS auto cars in the train and they both had the anniversary logos on them.
The UP 8609 working as the DPU on this 1 x 1 train was just transitioning from power to dynamic braking as it slid past me on the way downhill to Aledo while the clouds once again blocked out the sun.
I am glad I got out for this train as only heard one eastbound on the radio later on before it got dark on the first day of 2013.
Wow! Love that sunrise shot at Davidson Yard. Kudos for braving the cold temps!
From what I can find, HZGX 186 is a “Relco RLMW 1500A”. Built from an old SW frame perhaps?
The morning shot at the yard came out great. I love that you had your camera with you during that thick fog New Year’s Eve. We encountered it on our way to purchase fireworks and it looked so cool at sunset. Alas, I’d left my camera a home.
Ken, I am impressed. I spent from 1979 to April 2006 working for MP, UP and took very few pictures. Last run on April 20 was Sweetwater to Fort Worth. Doug Nolton was the yard master at the Crest when I retired, now he is retired and lives near me here in Richland Hills. Love your pictures. Thanks Wayne