Jan and I have been out on assorted missions this week, like delivering Galesburg Railroad Days posters, and of course managed to get in a little train-watching as well. On Wednesday, we drove to Boone and checked out the UP yard there.
When we arrived around 11:30, and eastbound manifest was just arriving and doing some switching at the east end of the yard. On this train were UP 5949, CNW 5512 and MPI 9037. CNW 4711 and 4331 were working the east end of the yard, and CNW 4709 and 4107 were at the west end.
Other power spotted in the yard: SP 177, 272 and 7367, UP 9364, 9403, 6193, 6559, and 6565.
At 12:15, a westbound manifest pulled out with UP 9493, CNW 8651 and SP 7883. Shortly, this train was followed out of town by light power going to Jefferson: UP 6193, very rustySP 7367, SP 177, and UP 9403.
At 1:15, the MDMEA arrived at the east end of the yard, and after a few minutes waiting, was allowed to pull in. On the point were CNW 6867 and UP 3711.
We drove on over to Ames on our way home, and saw another westbound at 2:55 in front of the Ames depot behind UP 1719 and CNW 4710.
On Friday, again out on an unrelated errand, we stopped by Short Line Junction for lunch. UP 1030 was working the west end of the yard when we arrived. At 1:30, CNW 4705 brought a cut of cars down from the Hull Avenue Yard and into Short Line. After the diamond cleared from some switching, CSX 9028 was taken around the wye so that it could be used as the lead unit on a northbound train.
While the above unit was coupled on a train in the yard and the air was tested, a southbound, the "NPPS", came through the junction. On the head end were UP 6225, 520 and 2460. I spotted an interesting boxcar in the consist that had had its roof raised at some point in its life. This train was by us at 2:45. Next, it was time for CSX 9028 and UP 3271 to come out of the yard and go around the northeast leg of the wye.
That's It!
