Happy Thanksgiving

A kitchen remodel has my attention lately, so model railroading is on hold for a brief time.  I thought I would share some recent photos from a trip to Fremont, NE.  I am looking for ideas for a new layout, and needed some inspiration.  It's that time of year again, so Happy Thanksgiving and Safe Black Friday.

Here is a local crew switching out the ADM bean processing plant.

I spotted this train just south of town on the BNSF.  A nice pair of Canadian National units in the lead.

A project that has been on the back burner is my 64' reefer weathering.  I have about 18 BLMA reefers that are in various stages of graffiti now.  Here are a couple examples that I found to help be get motivated to pick that project back up.

A stack train going through town.

Here is a tank loading facility that I think would be fun to model.  

GO BIG RED!! Case IH on the UP

Since I am a fan of the Big Red, a fan of Case IH, and obviously a train addict, I was quite pleased to find a train loaded with Case IH combines headed eastbound near Fremont, Nebraska.

Nice looking train!  If only we had a suitable model in N scale.....


                       

Union Pacific 150 Express

Today I went trackside just west of North Bend, NE to watch UP #844 as it made its way westbound towards Cheyenne.  I have seen the loco multiple times this year, but simply can't pass up an opportunity to see it again, especially since it is in my own backyard.  There is just something special about live steam, and seeing it in action.  Click here to see my short video

Keeping It Real - Prototype Train Chasing

I am an Nscale addict, and have been for many years.  Something that helps me cope with my condition is chasing some 1:1 trains once in awhile in my local area.  It helps remind me what my 1:160 models are actually suppose to represent.  One area I like to go in particular is just north of Omaha in Fremont, NE.  There is a lot of Union Pacific action on the transcon double mainline, coming and going both to Omaha and Blair.  Recently my train chasing has been an opportunity to study specific prototype cars for my weathering projects, and capture some of my own photos for my rollingstock archive.  Here are a few of my favorites.

Not a great photo as I barely had time to get my camera out to capture this guy.  I wish I had been set up better, and it was moving at a pretty good clip, so getting out in front of it in a different location wasn't realistic that day.

The OMAX (Omaha Public Power) unit trains are a common sight in Omaha.  Here is an eastbound load.

This is the first unit tank train I've ever seen, which was quite a sight.

I have a few tank cars in my collection that I have been earmarking for weathering victims.  I'm not sure when I will get around to that project, but I have lots of good reference material when that time comes.

I shot a few photos of these wrapped lumber stacks since I've been designing and making my own N scale versions.

Of course I was happy to see some "big ugly's" come rolling by since these boxcars have been a favorite weathering project of mine recently.

Shiloh Limited Union Pacific #844 - One Last Look

I just couldn't let #844 leave town without watching it one more time.  This morning I took both the 7 year old son, and 4 year old daughter just south of Omaha to watch the Shiloh Limited as it went southbound to its destination.

Here is a video of #844 as it heads southbound through the small town of Mynard, NE which is just south of Plattsmouth, after crossing the Platte River, and the BSNF mainline.

Chasing Union Pacific #844 Shiloh Limited

My son and I jumped in the car this morning with camera, ipad, ipod, and cell phone, and headed west to find Union Pacific #844 as it made its way west across Nebraska.  We couldn't have asked for a better day, especially in March where you never know what you are going to get.  We met up with the train in Duncan, Nebraska, and was able to chase it back towards Blair before I had spent about every ounce of enthusiasm from my 7 year old.  My crazy driving and my son's motivating chants of "come on dad" allowed us to get in front of the train 8 different times in a short afternoon.  It was a day well spent, and I never get tired of seeing real live steam.  Here are some of the highlights including a shot taken from the (moving) car.  (and people think teenagers texting while driving is bad!)

Video of Union Pacific #844

Railfanning Photography on the Union Pacific

N scale trains aren't the only trains I enjoy.  When I have time I like to railfan the local area on both the UP and BNSF.  Here are some photos I have taken over the past couple of years.  I was fortunate to get a nice shot of #3985 a few years ago, as it hasn't been on tour for awhile due to maintenance.  

 

Union Pacific 844 Comes to Omaha

I chased the 844 today as it made its way north to Omaha.  I was fortunate to be able to see it go by twice since it had to stop at the BNSF/UP diamond just north of Plattsmouth.  It will be displayed on a track just north of TD Ameritrade Park for the College World Series.   It's nice to take a break once in a while from model railroading and watch the real thing.

There's nothing quite like watching live steam rolling down the tracks.