"Grainfield: Where Dreams Grow in Fields of Gold". Not a bad slogan for the rural farming community! Many people, no doubt include a lot of local farmers, have gathered to check out the massive 4-8-8-4 Big Boy that stopped in the tiny community for about 30 minutes.
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So far as I know, nobody was actually riding on the bayside caboose on the back of the Big Boy special. I think it was present only for display purposes. But it makes for a great site here at the Grainfield sign!
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The population of the small Kansas town of Grainfield, KS is 322, according to the most recent census. Looks like there is a good chance the population of the town at least doubled on this Sunday morning, as a lot of people flocked in to see the Big Boy up close and personal during its scheduled maintenance stop.
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UP 4014 blows off a bit of steam as it has come to a stop across the main grade crossing in Grainfield, KS. As always, even in rural areas like the Kansas country side, Big Boy attracts a crowd!
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If there is one things Kansas (and the plains in general) have in abundance, it is grain elevators! UP's Big Boy is slowing to a stop in Grainfield, KS as it rolls by the Heinrich Feeds grain elevator.
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UP 4014 kicks up a plume of smoke as the train slows towards a maintenance stop in Grainfield, KS. The train will stop for roughly 30 minutes for grease to be applied to the drivers (and other components).
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I think a cool touch to UP 4014 is the American flag and state flag that UP puts on the front of the engine. Whatever state the train will be running in at its next stop is the state flag mounted. Here, just west of Quinter, KS, the Kansas state flag sits on the front.
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A combination of humidity and dust kick up from railfans add a hazy look to this shot of UP 4014 just west of Quinter as is passes by a few hay bails.
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I was actually quite surprised by just how green most of western Kansas was when tracking down UP 4014 on the Sharon Springs Subdivision. The train passes by two of countless corn crops just west of Collyer, KS.
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After a long morning driving from Denver east into Kansas, we catch up with UP 4014 as it returns back toward Cheyenne after a months-long tour east to Philadelphia. Just west of Collyer, KS, the train is on the move amidst a field of corn.
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This light power move, which includes ten units, is headed into the siding at the east end of Plain. The units will meet two eastbound here, including a BNSF loaded oil train, and the California Zephyr.
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On a beautiful Sunday evening, a westbound light power move is just west of Tunnel 1, headed for the siding at Plain to meet an eastbound BNSF oil train and the eastbound California Zephyr. There are just a few clouds in the sky this afternoon, and the temperature is a toasty 95ºF.
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UP 7170 emerges with nine additional units from Tunnel 1. In the distance, you can actually see a small piece of the mainline between the trees, just east of Blue Mountain Drive.
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A ten unit light power move is approaching Blue Mountain Crossing in the distance, as we see the west portal of Tunnel 1 in the foreground. In short order, the power will be emerging from Tunnel 1 as it continues west.
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Ten units head west out of Eisele (Clay), likely headed for either Glenwood Springs or Grand Junction, to serve as swing helpers on coal or oil trains.
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