A pair of BNSF SD70ACes lead a coal empty into one of the tracks at Black Thunder West Mine. SD70ACes and ES44ACs are the power on virtually on BNSF coal trains these days.
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BNSF 9204 is moving along at about 10 MPH on the second of five Black Thunder West leads to the coal load out.
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A BNSF crew brings an empty coal train into one of five tracks that lead to the Black Thunder West Mine load out. The triple track main is to the right of the road, just out of view.
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A pair of BNSF SD70ACes lead an eastbound coal empty on Main 3, as a single UP ES44AC bring up the tail end of a westbound coal empty. Because BNSF accesses the Orin Sub from both ends, empties enter from both ends to reach the mines. As a result, it is quite possible for two empties (or two loads) to meet each other, such as in this shot.
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A pair of DPUs bring up the end of a westbound BNSF coal empty on Main 3 as a single UP DPU works hard to help an eastbound train up Logan Hill on Main 1, passing by the Antelope Lead tracks.
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BNSF 6643 passes by intermediate signals between Crossover 49.2 and Crossover 45.7, headed west (geographically north) on Main 2. The auto racks are using the Orin Sub as a shortcut to get from south to north Wyoming, likely headed for the Pacific Northwest.
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Since BNSF can access the Orin Sub from both the north and south end, they do run a handful of non-coal trains across the entire length of the Orin Sub. Case-in-point is this westbound (geographic northbound) unit auto rack train on Main 2.
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The fog was rapidly moving and shifting this morning here at the crossover at MP 55.8. No westbounds are currently aligned on Main 1 or 3, as evidenced by the red signals, in addition to the red signal on Main 2.
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This mist layer stopped right at the westbound signal bridge at Crossover 55.8 as a BNSF coal empty moves away and disappears into the mist on Main 2.
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It is 58ºF (14ºC) this morning, and there is some low hanging fog that has formed near the Black Thunder lead. This westbound coal train on Main 2 is disappearing into the mist.
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We are along the stretch of the triple track between South Black Thunder Mine and the Black Thunder Mine. BNSF 3375 is headed west on Main 2 for a mine north of Black Thunder.
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Not far south (timetable east) of the South Black Thunder mine lead, a westbound BNSF empty meets an eastbound UP load. Some mist hangs low to the ground off in the distance.
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This westbound BNSF coal empty is on Main 2, running around a sweeping curve on the northeast side of the Antelope Mine. You can see a crane, busily working to extract more "black diamonds".
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A single ES44AC brings up the end of a westbound coal empty as the train crosses over Antelope Creek on Main 2.
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The rising sun shines between two cars as a westbound empty crosses over Antelope Creek at Nacco Wye Junction. It is shaping up to be a beautiful day!
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