A great catch of raw SD40-2'S with 200-250 bathtubs climbing the grade is amazing its great how you documented such a train that goes in the book of massive trains
Amazing! I wish I could've seen and heard that. The lead unit and the lead unit on the first helper set both had antenna platforms for Harris Locotrol on the cab roofs. I bet that first helper set was unmanned. I didn't know that any of BN's 7200 series SD40-2's were equipped with Locotrol and that BN still had any Locotrol equipped units this late into the eighties. BN had a good number of RCE units in the 6900 series SD40-2's from about 1977 into the early 80's, but photos from about 1982 or '83 on show that the 6900's had the equipment removed, or at least their antenna bases were cut off of the cab roofs making them in operable. Another thing, holy cow they needed some flange greasers up there! Fuel tenders on every consist and the 2 UP cabooses, both a CA-11 bay window and a cupola...were the icing on this big fat beautiful cake! There's nothing that can be done about the quality of the video, but the videography was actually very good. Better than a lot of people can do. I would've given this a thumbs-up, if I could. Thanks for posting it.
First time I've seen fuel tenders used this way. Learned something new. Your videography was fine - camcorder not so much compared to later tech. Thanks for posting!
Just found your channel today. You’ve got some real nice stuff for everyone to enjoy. Don’t know if you monitor comments on videos from so long ago but if you do, thanks a lot. Don from New Hampshire
Gerald, really cool video. All the times I have been to Crawford, I have never seen a double length train, nor mid-train helpers for that matter. Nice catch. Will
really neat video from 30 years ago! Great catch on that train. From the UP rotary coal gons and the UP cabooses, it sure looks like you caught a double train of two section of the Jeffery Energy Center coal trains. These would originate on the BN in the Powder River Basin and go throuagh Alliance, NE and down to Northport where the trains would be handed off to the UP to finish the trip to the power plant (located north of Topeka, KS). The fuel tenders were an experiment for use on some coal trains, and on some sets of Crawford Hill helpers - the experiment didn't last very long. Afterwards one could see some of the ex-fuel tenders in diesel fuel service between Council Bluffs, IA and Lincoln, NE along with rgular black BN tank cars. This was a good look at things long gone!
Well buckle up, I work for BNSF in Alliance and we just received word that BNSF is going to try and run double loads up Crawford again starting this week. Ball park between 240-270 cars with a minimum of 10 units if not more
Of course, if a railroad can get rid of half of the crews, they'll try anything. We have double length empties running up the Front Range Sub, and there are no sidings long enough to put one in.
@@gerfmon1 Yupp, anything to save a buck, Can't stop them anywhere so they put everyone in a siding hours before they get there and then call multiple short turns to relieve them.
By chance, do you remember where on the hill you were? I'm assuming the train was still climbing towards the horseshoe curve? Great video by the way. It was definitely interesting/cool seeing a solid set of UP coal cars with not one but 2 UP cabooses and solid green engines.
was there 13 power unit in that train and why was a tank car between in with the mix of the power units was this for extra fuel for the power units. that is the fullest I ever seen coal cars on a train. thanks for a very good video
very good video. one question; why was the tanker in with the power unit? fuel for the power units? Thanks; that was a old video, but still a good one.
I’d love to know the particulars on this train, which appears to be a UP train complete with UP cabooses. And how in the world did this monster wind up on BN?! This screams “reroute/detour.”
NOW THATS WHAT I CALL A REAL TRAIN BECAUSE THEY DON’T MAKE THEM TO SOUND SO POWERFUL LIKE THIS ANYMORE, ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE THE OLD SOUTHERN PACIFIC DIESELS PULLING UP GRADE I USED TO LOVE WATCHING THEM WHEN I WAS A KID GROWING IN THE BAY AREA CALIFORNIA.
nothing like this in the uk... since steam,,, maggie thatcher closed it all down,, dave cameron is selling whats left off cheap to the far east,,, great channel,,,,
They were experimenting with Natural Gas and even went as far as to convert a GP9 (I think it was) with a high short hood for the experiment. The short hood had a door on the engineers side and some small windows in the front complete with windshield wipers for BN brass or technicians to have a place to sit.
Probably the earliest video footage I’ve seen of Crawford Hill, I’m just glad you were there.
Superb video, run 8 all the way. Plus a UP unit train w/UP cabooses and BN power! Great catch back in the day!!!
Love those tanker fuel cars... and those SD40-2 "porches"... Ah, the 1980s.
A great catch of raw SD40-2'S with 200-250 bathtubs climbing the grade is amazing its great how you documented such a train that goes in the book of massive trains
Brings back some fond memories of caboose years. Miss seeing them. Trains seem naked without.
2:30 What is with the taker car in the middle of the units? Is that extra fuel they are running off of?
@@Angry.General1461 Fuel tender car, common on many road trains and helper sets 1980s-2000s on BN.
Amazing! I wish I could've seen and heard that. The lead unit and the lead unit on the first helper set both had antenna platforms for Harris Locotrol on the cab roofs. I bet that first helper set was unmanned. I didn't know that any of BN's 7200 series SD40-2's were equipped with Locotrol and that BN still had any Locotrol equipped units this late into the eighties. BN had a good number of RCE units in the 6900 series SD40-2's from about 1977 into the early 80's, but photos from about 1982 or '83 on show that the 6900's had the equipment removed, or at least their antenna bases were cut off of the cab roofs making them in operable. Another thing, holy cow they needed some flange greasers up there! Fuel tenders on every consist and the 2 UP cabooses, both a CA-11 bay window and a cupola...were the icing on this big fat beautiful cake! There's nothing that can be done about the quality of the video, but the videography was actually very good. Better than a lot of people can do. I would've given this a thumbs-up, if I could. Thanks for posting it.
I think BN gave up unmanned Locotrol helpers after some wrecks and lots of comm/reliability issues in the early 1980s.
Thanks for putting this up.
Awesome, really awesome!!! Thanks for the upload.
First time I've seen fuel tenders used this way. Learned something new. Your videography was fine - camcorder not so much compared to later tech. Thanks for posting!
Was not uncommon on BN coal, manifest and other unit trains systemwide.
Excellent video! All that lean mean green, two cabooses and not one, two but three fuel tenders. You don't get that now days. Thanks for sharing.
Outstanding catch! Thanks for sharing
WOW! INTERESTING!!! I HAVE NEVER SEEN BN DO THIS!!!
Fuel tender. Something BN tried back in the 80's and 90's, much longer running between refueling.
Just found your channel today. You’ve got some real nice stuff for everyone to enjoy. Don’t know if you monitor comments on videos from so long ago but if you do, thanks a lot. Don from New Hampshire
Gerald, really cool video. All the times I have been to Crawford, I have never seen a double length train, nor mid-train helpers for that matter. Nice catch.
Will
really neat video from 30 years ago! Great catch on that train. From the UP rotary coal gons and the UP cabooses, it sure looks like you caught a double train of two section of the Jeffery Energy Center coal trains. These would originate on the BN in the Powder River Basin and go throuagh Alliance, NE and down to Northport where the trains would be handed off to the UP to finish the trip to the power plant (located north of Topeka, KS). The fuel tenders were an experiment for use on some coal trains, and on some sets of Crawford Hill helpers - the experiment didn't last very long. Afterwards one could see some of the ex-fuel tenders in diesel fuel service between Council Bluffs, IA and Lincoln, NE along with rgular black BN tank cars. This was a good look at things long gone!
2:30 What is with the taker car in the middle of the units? Is that extra fuel they are running off of?
WOW !!! Fantastic video!
Thanks for the response, I was thinking that also but was not sure. Keep up the great video postings!
Well buckle up, I work for BNSF in Alliance and we just received word that BNSF is going to try and run double loads up Crawford again starting this week. Ball park between 240-270 cars with a minimum of 10 units if not more
Of course, if a railroad can get rid of half of the crews, they'll try anything. We have double length empties running up the Front Range Sub, and there are no sidings long enough to put one in.
@@gerfmon1 Yupp, anything to save a buck, Can't stop them anywhere so they put everyone in a siding hours before they get there and then call multiple short turns to relieve them.
@@gerfmon1 Will not work...
2:30 What is with the taker car in the middle of the units? Is that extra fuel they are running off of?
Yes
Holy crap, man!
What is the tank car for between the LOCOS?
By chance, do you remember where on the hill you were? I'm assuming the train was still climbing towards the horseshoe curve? Great video by the way. It was definitely interesting/cool seeing a solid set of UP coal cars with not one but 2 UP cabooses and solid green engines.
Location is about half way between Belmont and the horseshoe curve. Maybe a mile and a half walk from Belmont.
was there 13 power unit in that train and why was a tank car between in with the mix of the power units was this for extra fuel for the power units. that is the fullest I ever seen coal cars on a train. thanks for a very good video
Google, "Burlington Northern Fuel Tenders" by Paul Birkholz with Al Krug
Dam they got em down on their knees pulling their guts out I love it
Massive coal train
39,000HP
very good video. one question; why was the tanker in with the power unit? fuel for the power units? Thanks; that was a old video, but still a good one.
Yes. BN experimented with fuel tenders in their coal train consists.
I’d love to know the particulars on this train, which appears to be a UP train complete with UP cabooses. And how in the world did this monster wind up on BN?! This screams “reroute/detour.”
NOW THATS WHAT I CALL A REAL TRAIN BECAUSE THEY DON’T MAKE THEM TO SOUND SO POWERFUL LIKE THIS ANYMORE, ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE THE OLD SOUTHERN PACIFIC DIESELS PULLING UP GRADE I USED TO LOVE WATCHING THEM WHEN I WAS A KID GROWING IN THE BAY AREA CALIFORNIA.
awesome
What were the "tanker" cars in between the engines?
Ken Hurley, extra fuel
beautiful! and my question too, was the tank car extra from the engines? outstanding thank you!
Google, "Burlington Northern Fuel Tenders" by Paul Birkholz with Al Krug
Al Krug! Now there's a name I haven't heard in years. I wonder how he's doing. Probably retired from BNSF by now. I miss his website and photo essays.
Hell of a job to wheelbarrow that one empty.
nothing like this in the uk... since steam,,, maggie thatcher closed it all down,, dave cameron is selling whats left off cheap to the far east,,, great channel,,,,
Difference is, in the UK there's no mountain chains for trains to cross :P
Wow, I actually run trains like this in my Trainz 2006 game! LOL
Epic upload. Did they have DPU then, or was each batch of locomotives independently engineered?
shnimmuc crew in every set
No, they didn't have DPU back then, they used manned helper units.
No they did not. Not til about '97 or '98.
did they not try natural gas at one time,,, and needed a tank car between two locox,,,
They were experimenting with Natural Gas and even went as far as to convert a GP9 (I think it was) with a high short hood for the experiment. The short hood had a door on the engineers side and some small windows in the front complete with windshield wipers for BN brass or technicians to have a place to sit.
They converted a few SD40-2s to LNG in the 90s. Failed experiment.
And cabooses!
What "mountain"? C'mon, it's a *hill*. Now the B&A was a mountain railroad, then others followed. Better that railroads address mountains via tunnels.