I am looking for diagrams of the three BNSF yards that we go by on the Empire Builder between MSP and MOT. Occassionally, we need to take our train through these yards and I would like to know exactly where I am going. Ever since the whole terrorist scares have kicked in, getting this kind of info from BNSF is very difficult. Heartland Security banned BNSF from even having rules and GCOR items on their website. I work for Amtrak out of St. Cloud, MN and go to either Minot or Winona, MN. The three yards are: Gavin Yard in Minot, ND, Dilworth Yard in Dilworth, MN and Northtown Yard in Minneapolis. If anyone has any diagrams, I would really appreciate it. Thanks for your help. Shawn Klimpel
WELCOME aboard! If I recall correctly, the 'Builder doesn't go thru Minot's Gavin yard. The mainline skirts the outside edges, and since refueling was done by truck, at the depot, that shouldn't be an issue anyways. I used to live in Minot, for 4 years, and railfanned the area heavily. I may have a pic of the sign from WAY back when, but I dunno the value to you it will be. I also dunno how long it will take to find it. I have well over 8,000 images to sort thru!
An aerial view might also give some good refernce. Maybe try a site such as Terraserver, and zoom in for a close look? Boxcab E50
I realize that we skirt Gavin Yard but there has been a couple of times that we have needed to go through all three yards Gavin, Dilworth and Northtown and a route guide would be way awesome. I also looked on Terraserver and the image is just a little too grainy to make out exactly what i need the photos for. Thanks for all of the assistance and please keep helping if you can.
Dangit, I cannot find that photo, but I may know another pace to look, give me a bit more time, I may be able to get a Gavin yard schematic for you.
Guess what? I made a trip up north to visit family, and paid a visit to Gavin yard, and shot the sign, just for you! Enjoy!
"Fred & Mary Storage"? Did anyone think to ask Fred & Mary if they wanted to be there in the first place????? OK, that was a smarta** remark, but I couldn't resist.....I understand the FRED part, but who or what is Mary?
"Mary" is a nickname for the "Head Of Train Device" on the locomotive that communicates with the "FRED".
doofus,Thanks for passing along that information..I was going nuts wondering who or what "Mary" was..
I always wondered why some wit didn't call it an "ETHEL" instead of a "MARY". That way, the Conductor could ask the Engineer, "Are the Mertzes talking?", before they leave the yard.
I have a few schematics , I have Northtown and willmar and a few others. Would be happy to send them to you. I am looking for "Dayton's Bluff" and "supierior"(sp?). Also on our rail we do refer to the head in as "Ethal" Tator Keep the dirty side down and the clean side up!
Anyone interested in "DM&E schematics let me know. "I'm a man but I can change..................If I have to..........................I guess............."
Shawn what has me puzzled with your question is that to be a marked up conductor you have to know your routes.You should be able to get the info from your employer on where you go or they should be able to get it from the BNSF for you.This question really has me puzzled.And if you are running on the BNSF you should be required to carry their rule books.
Being a conductor on Amtrak doesn't mean that you receive all the info on all the routes. The chances of us going into the yard are relatively small and has happened three times in my career. Often times they give us pilots to get through territory that we are not gualified on and that causes us to not know where we are. If I had to be qualified over every route we could possibly travel, we would never have a day off! We also do not receive schematics for the yards when we get our rule books as once again chances are small. I want it because it interests me where I am.
Ed You are correct to some degree. Alot of the information is in the Trck charts yada yada... but the charts are usually at best hacked up into sections which sometimes in the bigger switch yards makes it hard to sifer. Thus the need for schematics of the yards. I do know for a fact that if Shawn wants a schematic of Northtown all he has to do is ask a TM for one. They have a real colorful one on the wall inside the break room. I also have the same one on my office wall at home. All I did was ask for it. Some of the smaller away yards are the ones I am trying to get. I even have some hand drawn schematics from diffrent trainmen that have done it so they have a better understanding of various points in the yards. But for the most part the bigger yards such as Northtown are availiable for the asking.
Fellas, Based on some new training that I have just gone through, I will need to retract any and all offers of information that I may have concearning the rail with wich i am employed and any rail that I may happen to have information on. Tator
