BNSF IN WYOMING
BNSF IN WYOMING |
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| Home > Trains > USA > BNSF in Wyoming | |||
Powder River BasinThe Powder River Basin is a big coal mining area because the coal here has a low level of sulphur. The coals are transported from the mines to the eastern and southern USA by train. Both the Union Pacific and BNSF runs coal trains.Union Pacific normally runs the trains via Shawnee and Scottsbluff, Nebraska, to join their Transcon a little west of North Platte. BNSF normally runs the trains north via Gillette and the east using the BNSF line in Northern Nebraska or south via Shawnee and the south to Colorado or east to Nebraska. When the trains have delivered their load of coal at their destination, they return to the Powder River Basin as "empties" to get a new load. The line is BNSFs Orin Sub and begins a little east of Gillette in Donkey Creek Jct. (MP 0.0) and runs south to Bridger Jct. (MP 127.3) a little southeast of Douglas. From Caballo Jct. (MP 15) to Shawnee Jct. (MP 117) the line is used by both BNSF and UP and this part is also called BNSF/UP Joint Line. The line was build in the 1970's as singletrack, but as traffic volume grew, extra tracks were laid and the central part of the line now has 4 tracks! A typical coal train consists of about 100 hoppers each capable of loading a little more than 100 metric ton (the weight of the hopper itself is relatively low as it is made of aluminium, about 20 ton). The total train can carry a load of about 11,000 metric ton and the total weight of the train is about 13,000 metric ton. The length is about 2,000 m. The train is pulled by 2 or 3 locomotives in front and a helper-unit at the end of the train. The locomotives is (almost?) always of the "AC"-type because these have a higher tractive effort at low speeds. And the speed often is quite low, I saw some loaded coal trains climbing up the hills with about 10 mph (16 km/h). There are plenty of railfanning possibilities in Powder River Basin, click for a railfanning guide I have made based on my own experiences and info I have found on the internet.. | |||
Gillette | |||
| 2 trains in Gillette: a standing coaltrain headed by BNSF 5610 (GE AC4400CW) + BNSF 8853 (EMD SD70MAC) and a starting eastbound autorack headed by BNSF 4800 (GE C44-9CW) + BNSF 8728 (EMD GP60, ex-ATSF 4028). March 27, 2005, 8:47. | |||
Both trains (60 kb) |
The coal train after the autorack has left (66 kb) |
BNSF 4800 (83 kb) |
BNSF 8728 - still in Santa Fe blue & yellow paint (96 kb) |
Hilight RoadHilight Road follows the railroad for about 20-25 km with plenty photo opportunities. | |||
| Empty, standing coal train headed by BNSF 5681 and 5621 and with BNSF 5606 as helper, all three GE AC4400CW's. The length of the train was 1,3 - 1,4 mile = ca. 2,2 km! April 15, 2004 10:56. | Almost all trains are coal trains, but i did catch FURX 7217 (ex-BN 7217) EMD SD40-2 with a short local train. Hilight Road south of Black Thunder Mine, April 15, 2004, 12:40. | ||
BNSF 5681 + 5651 (155 kb) |
Helper BNSF 5606 (118 kb) |
FURX 7217 (68 kb) |
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| Empty, parked RWSX/HYWX coal train headed by BNSF 5612 (GE AC4400CW) + BNSF 5727 (GE ES44AC) and with BNSF 5729 (GE ES44AC) as helper. RWSX and HYWX reporting marks means this train will go to Georgia when full. March 26, 2005, 16:20. | Loaded KPLX coal train headed by BNSF 8925 (EMD SD70MAC) + BNSF 8206 (EMD SD75M) and with BNSF 4814 (GE C9-44W) as helper. March 26, 2005, 16:37. | ||
BNSF 5612 + 5727 (57 kb) |
Helper BNSF 5729 (201 kb) |
BNSF 8925 + BNSF 8206 (84 kb) |
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Black Thunder MineBlack Thunder Mine is the largest open suface mine in North America. It produces about 63 mio. tons a year (2003). | |||
| A couple of pictures from Black Thunder Mine. | |||
Black Thunder Mine (76 kb) |
Black Thunder Mine (93 kb) |
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| Loaded coal train headed by 3 EMD SD70MAC's: BNSF 8941 + 9456 + 9734. The pictures are taken from road 450. April 15, 2004, 12:05. | |||
BNSF 8941 + 9456 + 9734 (74 kb) |
BNSF 8941 + 9456 + 9734 (101 kb) |
BNSF 8941 + 9456 + 9734 (87 kb) |
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| Loaded coal train headed by 3 EMD SD70MAC's: BNSF 9580 + 9579 + 8977. The pictures are taken from road 450. April 15, 2004, 12:30. | |||
BNSF 9580 + 9579 + 8977. Notice the UP helper on the other track (97 kb) |
BNSF 9580 (80 kb) |
BNSF 9580 + 9579 + 8977 (85 kb) |
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| Loaded RWSX (Scherer Electric Generating Facility) coal train headed by BNSF 8857 (EMD SD70MAC) + BNSF 9525 (EMD SD70MAC). Black Thunder Mine / highway 450, March 26, 2005, 17:11. | Loaded RWSX (Scherer Electric Generating Facility) coal train headed by BNSF 8888 (EMD SD70MAC) + BNSF 5661 (GE AC4400CW). Black Thunder Mine / highway 450, March 27, 2005, 11:45. | ||
BNSF 8857 (82 kb) |
BNSF 9525 (77 kb) |
BNSF 8888 + BNSF 5661 (78 kb) |
BNSF 8888 + BNSF 5661 (89 kb) |
Jacobs Ranch Mine | |||
| Change of crew on a BNSF coal train at Jacobs Ranch Mine. The locomotives are BNSF 9627 + 9559, 2 x EMD SD70MAC. April 13, 2004, 18:50. | |||
BNSF 9627 + BNSF 9559 (208 kb) |
BNSF 9627 (108 kb) |
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North Antelope Coal Mine | |||
| A little unusual power for a coal train - BNSF 5131 (GE C44-9W) + BNSF 9524 (EMD SD70MAC) + NS 8861 (GE C40-9) with an empty CEFX coal train. March 27, 2005, 12:24. | Loaded coal train at North Antelope Coal Mine headed by BNSF 9527 + BNSF 9546 + BNSF 8270 (3 x EMD SD70MAC), March 27, 2005, 12:35. | ||
BNSF 5131 + 9524 + NS 8861 (67 kb) |
BNSF 9527 + BNSF 9546 + BNSF 8270 (245 kb) |
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North of Nacco / Converse Junction (Antelope Coal Mine) | |||
| Northbound loaded BNSF coal train. In front of the train is BNSF 5683 (GE AC4400CW) + BNSF 9486 (EMD SD70MAC); as helper is BNSF 9825 (EMD SD70MAC). April 13, 2004, 17:50. | |||
BNSF 5683 + BNSF 9486 (145 kb) |
BNSF 5683 + BNSF 9486 (217 kb) |
Rostershot of BNSF 5683 (226 kb) |
Rostershot of BNSF 9825 (145 kb) |
| Standing coal train headed by BNSF 5656 (GE AC4400CW) + BNSF 8935 (EMD SD70MAC) just north of Nacco Junction on March 26, 2007. | |||
BNSF 5656 + BNSF 8935 (57 kb) |
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Converse Junction / Antelope MineConverse Junction and Antelope Coal Mine can be reached from highway 59 by road 37 (Antelope Coal Mine road). Converse Junction is next to the southern part of Antelope Coal Mine. | |||
| Southbound loaded BNBX coal train, headed by BNSF 5853 (GE AC4400CW) + BNSF 5644 (GE AC4400CW) + 2 EMD SD70MAC as helpers. March 27, 2007, 13:18. | Antelope Mine on March 27, 2007. | ||
BNSF 5853 + BNSF 5644 (146 kb) |
Antelope Mine (195 kb) |
Antelope Mine (199 kb) |
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Logan HillLogan Hill is south of Antelope and Black Thunder coal mines. A dirt road called Steckley Road will take you to a bridge that crosses the rail line. The bridge is on the summit so from both directions trains are going uphill. This means you can enjoy especially loaded trains slowly going uphill with roaring engines. | |||
| Southbound loaded coal train, headed by BNSF 9527 (EMD SD70MAC) + BNSF 9546 (EMD SD70MAC) + BNSF 8270 (EMD SD75M). Notice the two coal trains in the horizon! March 27, 2005, 14:55. | |||
BNSF 9527 + BNSF 9546 + BNSF 8270 (82 kb) |
BNSF 9527 + BNSF 9546 + BNSF 8270 (97 kb) |
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| Northbound empty DEEX (Detroit Edison Co.) coal train. In front of the train is BNSF 8944 + 9638 (EMD SD70MAC's). March 27, 2005, 15:29. | |||
BNSF 8944 + 9638 (133 kb) |
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South of Bill / Bill | |||
| Southbound loaded BNSF coal train. In front BNSF 8916 (EMD SD70MAC) + 5697 (GE AC4400CW); as helper BNSF 9645 (EMD SD70MAC). Location: south of Bill along highway 59. April 13, 2004, 16:36. | Northbound empty BNSF coal train headed by BNSF 9953 + 9681, both EMD SD70MAC's. West Bill along highway 59. April 15, 2004, 13:35. | Southbound loaded WFAX coal train headed by BNSF 5961 (GE ES44AC) + BNSF 9560 (EMD SD70MAC) and with helpers BNSF 9818 (EMD SD70MAC) + BNSF 5643 (GE AC4400CW). West Bill on March 27, 2007, 11:58. | |
BNSF 8916 + 5697 + 9645 (66 kb) |
BNSF 8916 + 5697 + 9645 (65 kb) |
BNSF 9953 + 9681 (88 kb) |
BNSF 5961 + BNSF 9560 (152 kb) |
| Northbound empty CEFX coal train. In front BNSF 9812 and 9849; as helpers BNSF 9850 and 8803; all are EMD SD70MAC's. Location: Location: south of Bill along highway 59. April 15, 2004, 14:05. | |||
BNSF 9812 + 9849 (77 kb) |
BNSF 9812 + 9849 (117 kb) |
BNSF 9812 + 9849 (123 kb) |
BNSF 9850 + 8803 (123 kb) |
Highland Loop Rd. (~ MP 95.7)About 21 miles north of Douglas (13 miles south of Bill) the trains have to pass a hill near Highland Loop Rd. - I find this a nice location for photos. | |||
| Southbound loaded BNSF coal train. Heading the train is BNSF 8945 + BNSF 8879; as helper is BNSF 9998; all 3 EMD SD70MAC's. April 13, 2004, 16:11. | |||
BNSF 8945 + BNSF 8879 + BNSF 9998 (139 kb) |
BNSF 8945 + BNSF 8879 + BNSF 9998 (137 kb) |
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| Southbound loaded FSTX (Fuel Supply Trust) coal train. In front 2 new locomotives in "Swoosh"-paint; BNSF 6048 (GE ES44AC) + BNSF 5846 (GE ES44AC), on the rear BNSF 8973 (EMD SD70MAC) as helper. March 26, 2007, 17:12. | |||
BNSF 6048 + BNSF 5846 (145 kb) |
BNSF 6048 + BNSF 5846 (197 kb) |
BNSF 8973 (183 kb) |
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Highway 59 underpass / West WalkerIn the southern part of the Powder River Basin, about 16 miles north of Douglas, the Orin Line crosses over highway 59. | |||
| Southbound, loaded BNSF coal train grinds uphill at about. 7 mph (10 km/h). Heading the train is BNSF 9810 (EMD SD70MAC) + 8277 (EMD SD75I); as "helper" is BNSF 9609 (EMD SD70MAC). Location: 2 miles north of the highway 59 underpass (MP 97.9). Because the train was moving so slow there was plenty of time to turn the car and go back to where the line crosses highway 59 for some good shots. April 13, 2004, 15:48. | |||
BNSF 9810 + 8277 (134 kb) |
BNSF 9810 + 8277 (165 kb) |
BNSF 9810 + 8277 crosses highway 59 (143 kb) |
BNSF 9810 + 8277 crosses highway 59 (199 kb) |
Rostershot of BNSF 9810 (161 kb) |
Rostershot of BNSF 8277 (158 kb) |
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| BNSF 9367, one of BNSFs new EMD SD70ACe locomotives, on a coal train at West Walker on March 27, 2007, 15:03. | |||
BNSF 9367 (165 kb) |
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DouglasIn Locomotive Park in Douglas, next to Chamber of Commerce, a steam locomotive and some old passenger cars are on display. The locomotive is Chicago, Burlington and Quincy no. 5633, a 4-8-4, built 1940 and in use until 1956. The locomotive has a weight of 317 ton and was used to haul fast freights and heavy passenger trains. On display is also a Chicago, Burlington & Quincy dining car and a Great Northern sleeping car. Both Chicago, Burlington and Quincy and Great Northern are companies, that together with other companies formed Burlington Northern - and Burlington Northern has later become a part of BNSF. All pictures taken on March 27, 2007. | |||
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 5633 (240 kb) |
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy dining car (208 kb) |
Great Northern 1182 "Agassiz Glacier" sleeping car (172 kb) |
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 14140 caboose (194 kb) |
