Nostalgia & History > BN U30C leads in Colorado -- March 77

A BN coal train is east of Denver on the old CB&Q.
3 BN U30C units along with a SP SD40 and U30C.

Gary

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BNSP instead of the BNSF that was in the future.
Interesting skies.
Bob

Weren't the SP U30C's mostly used in Cali?

CPR_4000 Wrote:
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> Weren't the SP U30C's mostly used in Cali?

Between Tucson and Nor Cal

What is the lettering on those Thrall hi side gons?

Cheers, Jim

I think that SP SD40's # is 8444.... ironic

SPDRGWfan Wrote:
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> What is the lettering on those Thrall hi side
> gons?
>
> Cheers, Jim


Hello Jim,

SATX, headed to San Antonio, TX.

Take care

Mark

bodkin6071 Wrote:
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> I think that SP SD40's # is 8444.... ironic

It is.
Gary

I think that this was the only SP/BN coal train. I believe the SP U30's were regular pool power on this train.

mamfahr Wrote:
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> SPDRGWfan Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > What is the lettering on those Thrall hi side
> > gons?
> >
> > Cheers, Jim
>
>
> Hello Jim,
>
> SATX, headed to San Antonio, TX.

The San Antonio utility was one of the biggest critics of BN's "monopoly" of the Powder River basin coal. The very first C&NW/WRPI/UP coal train out of the Powder River basin in 1984 was a SATX train. Later on the BN became the middle carrier on the D&RGW to SP Coleto Creek, TX trains, getting the business away from the AT&SF. BSB
>
> Take care
>
> Mark

Can you tell me the interchange point and route of the BN-SP San Antonio trains in Texas?

Thanks,

Mark

BigSkyBlue Wrote:
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> mamfahr Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > SPDRGWfan Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > What is the lettering on those Thrall hi side
> > > gons?
> > >
> > > Cheers, Jim
> >
> >
> > Hello Jim,
> >
> > SATX, headed to San Antonio, TX.
>
> The San Antonio utility was one of the biggest
> critics of BN's "monopoly" of the Powder River
> basin coal. The very first C&NW/WRPI/UP coal
> train out of the Powder River basin in 1984 was a
> SATX train. Later on the BN became the middle
> carrier on the D&RGW to SP Coleto Creek, TX
> trains, getting the business away from the AT&SF.
> BSB
> >
> > Take care
> >
> > Mark

Nice shots, thanks for posting.

The C30-7 Era had started just two months earlier in January, so U30C's on coal trains were not uncommon.
I noticed the leader was a 5800, also common. This was because as alleged Locotrol masters, they were
the only ones equipped with the "creep" control for loading and unloading. Wehn the C30-7's came, most
were equipped with this feature

IIRC, in the Mad Dog Chronicles, mdo talks about the preparations for this train and that it was interchanged
in the Dallas/Ft. worth area. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Nick Tharalson,
Marion, IA

dgraves Wrote:
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> I think that this was the only SP/BN coal train.
> I believe the SP U30's were regular pool power on
> this train.
or U33C

mamfahr Wrote:
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> Can you tell me the interchange point and route of
> the BN-SP San Antonio trains in Texas?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mark
>

BN to Fort Worth, then SP south. BSB