Most likely empties. The route to Laurel is up grade, but mostly at river level with no hills. I think it is about 1,000 ft higher elevation in 260 miles??
Got a few eastbounds in the last week or so. Two "X-trains" and a CSX empty grainer. That one was interesting due to the number of fallen flag cars and being mostly older rib sided hoppers. It has been a quieter yard, though they are running loooong super trains evenings and near dawn. 14,000 ft trains just seem to crawl out of the yard forever when they are eastbound.
Early last Sat morning and my friend contacted me about a coal train called out. I haven't had much time to 'fan lately, so it was a nice opportunity. Went up on the hill in the cemetery, and got this nice overview of the train, yard and area.
Took a trip to Miles City for the afternoon yesterday, had to pickup a few things for a job that aren't available here. So, took a friend along what needed to go to Miles also. Got to talking, and it had been a while since we had either of us been ovber the Milwaukee bridge at Terry, so here we go, And the return, I had forgotten just how much fun it is to drive that bridge! Then, while leaving Terry, I spotted distant headlights! At least there is a bit of coal rolling east yet, so these empties do there racing along! Overall traffic is way down here along the Yellowstone. Haven't seen much more than grain, oil cans and coal, and not too many of those either.
Wow, hard to believe the Milwaukee has been gone this long! Your gonna' need some new shocks on your rig now!
And they have been able to keep this guy in captive service still! It is the dpu on the same empty coal train. This makes for a nice pair of old school ponies,
A pair23 July this pair of NS thoroughbreds were eastbound, And the 9459 has no 'horse' in the side stripes, A westbound M or H train, 31 July late morning, A SOO in good condition,
Neat catch on the no-horse NS unit! Never noticed anythign like that before--I wonder how many are like it?