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Meridian Speedway BLOG

Photo Essay - New C4's and Amtrak Heritage Unit 156

3/27/2015

12 Comments

 

Alliance, TX Photos - 3-25-2015

While working the day shift Fort Worth Terminal Dispatcher position, I noticed in the cameras that the lead unit on the Southbound Amtrak Heartland Flyer from Oklahoma City was the red-nosed heritage unit No. 156.  It had been a while since I had photographed trains.  In fact, I have not taken a train picture since last summer.  With the impending relocation of Main 2 between South Haslet and Lambert two miles to the west, motivation struck me and I decided it was time to dust off the cameras and get back into the sport!
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The day was sunny and perfect for photography.  I thought I would go for a shot of the heritage unit rolling over the bridge just south of Highway 114 with classic "Santa Fe" lettering painted in white on the black steel girder.

At train time, a line of clouds had rolled in and the brilliantly lit shot I had in mind was not so brilliant. So I did a little exploring and decided to photograph the northbound Heartland Flyer, train No. 822, in the curve at North Haslet just north of the Intermodal Parkway grade crossing. 

By the end of the summer the rails on main two will be cut forever to allow expansion of the runway at Alliance Airport.  The new main currently under construction is located about two miles to the west of this location...on the other side of Alliance Yard.

Leading the train was the gutted carcass of what was formerly Amtrak F40PH 222.  Reincarnated as NPCU (Non-Powered Control Unit) No. 90222, the little cab-control car sure made plenty of noise at the grade crossing announcing the train's passage!

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As was anticipated, Amtrak P42DC No. 156 wearing the "Phase I" heritage paint scheme was powering the train from the rear.  Today's train had the standard three-car Superliner consist between the NPCU and the locomotive.  For more information about the Amtrak heritage units, visit the Amtrak History Page on their website.
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While scouting for a location to photograph Amtrak No. 822, I noticed three brand new BNSF ES44C4 locomotives at the gate by the switch to Main Two.  Earlier in the day I had dispatched the BNSF GE test job K-ALTALT1-25 from GE to Valley View and back with two new C4's.  They had made the trip with enough time to make an evening delivery of new locomotives from GE to the BNSF Alliance Yard and the three units at the gate looked like they were poised for action after the passage of Amtrak.

Once train No. 822 had passed by my lens, I headed up to the GE Texas plant to see if they were coming out.  Not seeing any evidence of movement right away, I circled the plant to see a few C4's randomly littering the facility.  One more crossing of Main 2 at Eagle Parkway revealed a BNSF employee walking out to the Main 2 switch.  Bingo!  New GE's were going to be delivered from the factory and I would get the shot...
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I had failed to get the shot of Amtrak 156 next to the large American Airlines logo on the side of the hangar.  The shot still being in my mind, I decided to get ahead of this slow moving consist and try again.  Back at the Intermodal Parkway grade crossing at North Haslet, I got the following sequence of photos of the three new GE's heading home.  Once this main is severed at the new runway, new GE deliveries will have to run north from the GE plant to Lambert and then back towards Alliance on Main 1 or the new main from there.
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There was still enough light for one more sequence.  The power would continue south to South Haslet where it would then travel northward into Alliance Yard on Main 1 which is on a completely different alignment.  There is a small park with a jogging trail and a disk frisbee course next to the tracks just south of the small town of Haslet, TX.  The below scenes were taken from this location.
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Chris
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12 Comments
Bob Read
3/30/2015 10:44:23 am

Great shots . good to hear from you again.

Reply
Gordon Locke
3/31/2015 01:27:44 am

Chris
Missed your photographs. Sure glad to have you back.'

Gordon Locke
GC&SF Retired

Reply
Boxcar Jim Satterwhite
3/31/2015 04:09:51 am

Welcome back. I have since retired from truck dispatch and have weekend freedom once again. Great photos.

Reply
Ken (SP Detector) Harrison
3/31/2015 04:32:05 am

Thanks for returning to the "fold." As usual, great shots.

Reply
Dave White
3/31/2015 06:42:33 am

I've been wondering about you. Glad you're home, on a job you like, and ready to post more of your great shots. Good luck with the "Speedway."

Reply
friscojoe link
3/31/2015 07:10:12 am

GTS! Glad to see you back in the saddle, again!

Reply
Russ Dunn
3/31/2015 12:46:19 pm

Great shots Chris. Good to hear from you.

Reply
Fred Stuckmann
4/1/2015 09:04:56 am

Great set of shots, also enjoyed the video portion of your blog.

Reply
Rocky Hartline
4/1/2015 01:58:21 pm

Very nice Chris. When I see these photos I'm reminded of following the Amtrak "City of New Orleans" along the highway through Kankakee back in the 90's! Nice to see you will have some time to enjoy family and the things you enjoy the most!

Reply
Sam Urrate
4/3/2015 03:17:04 am

I was part of Lou's group.

Thank you for your great website and modeling inspiration!

Sam Urrate

Reply
Tom Blackwell
4/4/2015 02:25:38 am

Great stuff, Chris, as always.

Reply
Barry Gates
4/6/2015 06:36:48 am

Thanks for the essay, Chris. Nice shooting!

Reply

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© Christopher M. Palmieri - 1st Publish 12-10-2014
  • Home Page
    • What's New
    • Recommended Links
    • About Me
    • Contact
  • NT&0/T&GN Story
    • Story Variables
    • NT&O & T&GN Are Born
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  • Library
    • Library - Selected Reading
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  • Model Railroad
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  • Operations
    • Safety ? Logo
    • MAPS
    • Business Units
    • Train Symbols >
      • T&GN/NT&O Train Symbol Methodology >
        • TGN-NTO MBU-Domestic Symbols
        • TGN-NTO MBU-Mexico Symbols
        • TGN-NTO Local Symbols
        • TGN-NTO Yard Job Symbols
        • TGN-NTO Cycle Train Symbols
        • TGN-NTO Intermodal Train Symbols
        • TGN-NTO Rock Train Symbols
      • Y&MV Train Symbols
    • Equipment Rosters
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      • GM&O Southern Division Time Table No. 11
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