Epic Adventure Pt. 6

Wow, I really need to get caught up on posting Epic Adventure pics. After rolling south out of Grand Forks, we headed south to Fargo, ND. This started a stretch of earthworms like I have never seen before. The first was being loaded at the rural elevator in Thompson, ND by ILSX TR4a #916. This ex-BRC unit still sounds like it's running strong!

The next unit grain train was led by BNSF Dash 9's 4793 and 4743.

From Fargo we made a quick run West, to Casselton, ND, at the Ethanol Plant there we found this little jem, NIWX NW2 #9251. The Northern Illinois & Wisconsin is a leasing company based far south of here.

After cheching out the Ethanol plant we headed back East to Dilworth, MN and the awesome BNSF yard there. BNSF ES44DC #7343 was leading an auto train just east of town.

At a crossing on the east side of the yard we caught a nice 5 engine lashup on an oil train with some CSX run through power in the mix.

 After Dilworth we turned south again. Next stop: Breckenridge, MN. The first engine we found in town was RRVW GP10 #404, this one is sublettered for MOW and was hooked to the ditch sprayer.

 By the elevator in town we found a pair of forlorn CF7's RRVW 309 and 303 have been sitting a while.

Looking at the front of 303 behind the Jordan Spreader you can see the damage from a vehicle collision that side lined the unit years ago. The spreader has probably seen more action the last couple of years that the engine.

 

There was unit power for another grain train sitting by the elevators, but they wouldn't be the most interesting item of note while we were in Breckenridge...