Railroading in the Peace Garden State

HemiAdda2d Apr 27, 2020

  1. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Coulee likely used to have a depot, at least it was listed on a BNSF timetable in 2007. I'd have to look, maybe one exists, although they may have been moved.
     
  2. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I was poking around and I found hints that Northgate and Niobe may still exist, although moved.
     
  3. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Yep. Confirmed that Coulee had a depot. Also, Aurelia and Hartland. Maybe some day you will have time to explore... :)
     
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  4. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Back to Northgate Branch!
    Bowbells is a tiny town, but has a bunch of rail action. The northbound local pulls past Bowbells to take the switch to serve the Savage loadout. A little freezing fog and some snow made brown season a little brighter!

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    After making a pickup at Savage, the local pulls north past Pipeline Foods and the Juke's Tree, at MP 12:

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    The frost on the rails scatters as the locomotives pull north:

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  5. ddechamp71

    ddechamp71 TrainBoard Member

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    Looks like long train for a local.. :) How many cars ? :)

    Dom
     
  6. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I think 30 plus. I don't typically count cars. It gets awfully boring when it's well over 100 on most mainline freights... :p
    I need to get back to updating this thread. Plenty more to come.
     
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  7. ddechamp71

    ddechamp71 TrainBoard Member

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    Looked like longer than 30 cars... BTW, here on the right hand side of the Pond freight trains are so scarce and so short (seldom more than 25 cars) that I always appreciate the endless freights running one after each other when I go railfanning west of 60° Meridian. ;)

    Dom
     
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  8. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Accurate! I remember freights in Europe as short and fast, one unit, usually electric. Unlike America, Europe's rail network is mainly for passenger service. It was a culture shock when I went to see the local rail sights while living in Germany 2010-2015.

     
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  9. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Last we saw, we caught the Northgate Local at MP 12 heading north. Now we catch it again at MP 18. Same crossing, 3 photos.

    Looking north, and vaguely like a Milwaukee Road granger line:

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    Looking south at the Local, 2 photos:

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    Next up: Northgate!
     
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  10. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    Great photos. Funny how a telephoto lens makes CWR look all wiggly/wobbly. Head end crews must enjoy the rock-n-roll amusement park rides. :rolleyes:
     
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  11. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks, Hank! It's exactly what I love about doing long teles.

    Coming into Northgate, ND from the south, you will see the Viterra elevator a few miles out. It also passes a small loadout facility. At this point, the Local has reached yard limits and the attendant (5 MPH?) speed limit.

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  12. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    There's a few things to see in Northgate proper, but the age-old wooden elevators are long gone, razed at least 5 years ago.
    An Erich Linser photo shows them before they were removed:
    https://flic.kr/p/dSzt9e

    Not far from the site of those elevators, the Local makes its way to the border.

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    Milepost 21 is but a half mile from Canada, so this is the last milepost on the branch:

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    The Boundary Line sign frames the Local as it prepares to reenter the United States from Saskatchewan, 400 mm view:

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  13. Hytec

    Hytec TrainBoard Member

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    Hemi, you live in a lovely area with wonderful railroading. I do miss my New Hampshire mountains and lakes. Though not the "still and clear" forecasts. "Still Snowing and Clear Up To Your A**!". Forgive me, but the Mississippi Gulf Coast with low temps of 26*F have become brutally cold after 60+ years away from my beloved NH. LOL

    Keep hour photos coming, buddy!
     
  14. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thanks, Hank! I have lived in several places some people might dismiss as being boring, undesirable, etc, but it's all what you make of it. While I'd prefer to be in the CO mountains, it's not an option right now, so I'll make the most of where I'm at. for MS, 26 degrees is mighty chilly, especially with all that humidity!
    A few miles south of Northgate, the Local drifts down a hogback and over a low wooden trestle. The haze and fog made photos less than stellar, but I'm a stubborn, all-weather railfan, and refuse to put the camera down!

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  15. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    (y)(y)(y):D
     
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  16. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    While waiting for the Local to get a clear signal to cross the CP Portal Sub which crosses at grade, my son and I have a duel:

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    And eventually (at when sunset would occur) the Local drifts across the wooden trestle over a feeder tributary of Des Lacs River.

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  17. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    That is great Hemi! Cameras at 20 paces … lol! Wish I could get my son to develop an interest in railfanning with the old man.
     
  18. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Either they like trains or they hate 'em. My youngest is in the hate category. He's a jock. Sports: soccer, swimming, etc. I need to train myself (see what I did there?) to hang out with my sporty son as much as I do my railfan son and doing what they each like!

     
  19. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Deep into blue hour, in the fog and frost, the southbound Local nears Aurelia, ND:

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  20. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I found the Niobe depot. It is moved a few hundred feet from the tracks, still has the depot signboard in place. Photos with permission, the owner confirmed it is the original depot, although it seems the depot was added onto at some point.

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