Mendota Sub of BNSF - 2

West from Montgomery -- Mostly Backlit

April 17, 2010

Photos by J. David Ingles

Seeking to fill in some holes in the March 31-April 1 signal-bridge coverage, I drive down, with Carol, to the Aurora area on April 17, another in a string of cool, bright sunny days that has brought us the most memorable Spring season in years, to photo some BNSF trains on the east end of the Mendota Sub. First we confirm what I recall – that the C&I junction in Aurora is inaccessible by car. The westward home signals at Montgomery are likewise, and new tri-light signals are already erected but turned aside until the new PTC system is cut in later this year. After photoing BNSF contract switching firm Burlington Junction’s two local units -- an SW1200 formerly at Rochelle, and ex-Norfolk Southern Rwy/Southern Rwy/Otter Tail Valley GP18 181 -- idle for the weekend at their mile-long industrial spur, we park a block west at the Montgomery interlocking to await a train.

This is the "back" end

First is Amtrak #4, SW Chief, eng. 89/16, 9 cars with PV Scottish Thistle on rear, 1410 hours

Next is outbound Amtrak 5, the Cal Zephyr, eng. 131/77, 8 cars, 1449 hours

Bristol already has signal crews at work, so hiking west for a with-the-sun, going-away shot is out of the question: Amtrak #6, eng 176/172, 9 cars w/ PV Sierra Hotel on the rear, 1505 hours. Note the finials on the eastward home signal bridge; there are very few left.

We are aware of a westbound behind #5, so we stay put: BNSF 5953/5832, 131 coal empties, 1511 hours.

Crossing over from 2 to 1 at Bristol.

Contractors are here, to put up the new PTC-inspired tri-light signals.

Motoring west on US 34, we are surprised east of Plano to see gates go down to the north, and miss a head-end shot, but we go up the side road for a possible shot of the rear on a 124-car eastbound coal load -- and luck out as it has a DPU, 6302, 1528 hours.

Next target is a bridge on that east-end Mendota Sub rarity, a curve, this one just east of Sandwich. It is best as a morning shot east of the adjacent grade crossing, but I will have to return for that. A westbound is tough to get with both the signal bridge and the pole line in the frame; this is the east end of the multi-arm pole line: NS 9876/8934 West on what might be an ELKGAL run-thru, 58 cars, 1605 hours. At least the bridge has finials.

Now we are being pursued by Amtrak #3, the SW Chief, and I have brief thoughts of Earlville, but the signal bridge, with finials, which I shot on Trip 1, is too far from US 34. Next target: Meriden, but it’s obvious we won’t make it, too many curves on 34. So it’s a grab shot (slide only) at Moyers Curve: Eng. 195/44, 8 cars, 1635 hours. I still need a train at the “cantilever” 1st Avenue signal at Mendota, so on to that spot for another shot of the NS train, 1653 hours.

We try to return to Meriden for a westbound coal empty we know is coming, but have to give that up when we see it across fields, and try to get over to the tracks west of the Mendota Electrics for a meet with an eastbound coal load that suprises us, but frustration -- we have to watch the meet in front of us (9361 West and the loads on which we get no engine numbers), no head-end shot of either, only this “Fred meet” distant view west of t he Mendota Electrics -- more backlit frustration, 1701 hours.

Fortunately, another coal empty is coming, so we do it right at 1st Avenue: 8818/6116, 116 cars, 1719 hours. As is the custom this time of day the Mendota Sub now grows quiet, so we call it a (half) day and head for supper and gas at South Beloit and home by 8:30 p.m. The west end of the Mendota Sub awaits.

This page was designed and is maintained by Mike Condren. If you have materials
that you would like to contribute, contact me at mcondren@cbu.edu