Photo ID: 105569 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, August 16, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Logan Hill (MP 69) Converse County, WY 1575 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Orin (BNSF) BNSF This BNSF coal train was loaded earlier in the day at the Black Thunder Mine East loadout. It is now climbing the west slope (geographically north) of Logan Hill on Main 4. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105568 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, August 16, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Logan Hill (MP 69) Converse County, WY 1325 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Orin (BNSF) Union Pacific, BNSF A BNSF coal load climbs up Logan Hill on Main 4 as a UP empty descends downgrade on Main 2. This UP coal train will be working extra hard on the return trip to get the loaded coal train over the hill with only three units! Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105567 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, August 16, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Logan Hill (MP 69) Converse County, WY 1634 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Orin (BNSF) Union Pacific, BNSF The line through the Powder River Basin was originally built by Burlington Northern between 1972 and 1979. By 1985, the single track line was handling 19 million tons of coal per year. Chicago Northwest and Union Pacific together bought 50% of the interest in the line. This resulted in both BN and CNW trains accessing the coal mines. In 1994, the single track was resulting in bottlenecks over the line and over the next three years, a second main was added to the entire line. By the year 2000, a third track was added to some of the line to accommodate continuing increases in coal demand. In 2005, the basin handled 325 million tons of coal. The line sees as many as 80 loaded coal trains (meaning 160 total trains) in a 24 hour period! In 2006, UP and BNSF invested another $100 million to add a fourth main track to 20 miles (over Logan Hill) of the line. The line is now has the capacity to support 400 million tons of coal annually! The fourth track project was completed in 2008. Here, an eastbound (geographically south) BNSF coal load climbing Logan hill on Main 4 meets a westbound (geographically north) UP coal empty descending down Main 2. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105564 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, August 16, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Logan Hill (MP 69) Converse County, WY 1374 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Orin (BNSF) CSX, Union Pacific This is the first CSX unit that I've shot that has the new logo on the long hood. From what I understand, the logo isn't actually that new, but seeing as how infrequently CSX units make their way out west, this is just the first time I've happened to catch one! Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105563 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, August 16, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Logan Hill (MP 69) Converse County, WY 1468 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Orin (BNSF) Union Pacific This eastbound (geographically south) loaded coal train has almost reached the top of Logan Hill on Main 1. Helping out with the climb on this afternoon is a CSX ES44AC. In the distance, you can see the load tower for the Antelope Mine. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture. Photo ID: 105562 Date Shot Photo By Sunday, August 16, 2015 Kevin Morgan Location Times Viewed Logan Hill (MP 69) Converse County, WY 1281 (Add a Comment) Subdivision Railroad Orin (BNSF) Union Pacific For all trains running in the Powder River Basin, the biggest challenge is the climb up Logan Hill. Here, a loaded UP local train struggles up the hill on Main 1. With only three units, the train is only making about 10 MPH up the hill. Email Questions or Comments to the Webmaster or add a comment to the picture.