A warm weekend

Over the weekend, I was able to get out and get some photos around St.Paul and Minneapolis. A good time was had. BNSF had plenty of extra SD60s sitting around, including CEFX 6001 and INRD 6011. The rotary plaw set can be seen in the background, waiting for a little more snow.

CP has not had a problem with color lately, this train being led by CEFX AC44CW #1002.

CP also has a WB Oil Can being led by CSX power. I got this shot of CSX SD40-2 #8128 crossing the old Soo Line Bridge over East River Road.

The St.Paul side had plenty going on too. This BNSF manifest was led by BNSF ES44AC #6268, BNSF SD70MAC #9496 and CSX C40-8 #7575.

I caught the #8 (EB) Empire Builder at Short Line Hill and chased them back to the better lighting at the bluff. AMTK P42 #174 leads the train.

But tucked into the consist was AMTK F59 #467, not a usual site on the Builder.

All in all, a fun couple hours out and about. I'm glad I chose those days versus, the -15F I woke up to today.

Pigs Eye Code Blue

I had an half an hour to spend around Pigs Eye Monday, and it was possibly the finest half-hour I've ever had railfanning. It started with a chase down the hill. There were 2 NS SD70ACes on the point of an EB Manifest:

I looked south to the yard and I could see a WB CSX fertilizer train getting ready to roll out with a triple header of CSX power.

As those two clear I see a BNSF manifest and an Earthworm holding to head East. As I admire them a BNSF Ore MT rolled up. That covered my Dash-9 fix as well as ES44DCs and SD70MACs.

The UP made there standard appearance, putting together a manifest to send down to Shakopee.

I headed over to the shops and looky-looky! More of the new CP GP30C ECOs!

And the pair of out of town guests that have eluded me all year! The Indiana Railroad SD9043MACs!

As I was getting ready to leave, I caught a CP transfer at the bluff with some great looking DME power on the point!

Shortly there-after the TCWR rolled through.

Not too shabby, eh? And people wonder why Minnesotans would put up with Sub-Zero temps half the year. The railfanning makes it worth it!