So, I am going to bring this thread forward, for the 2022 show. Would like to change the title, but no worries. I got to Livingston today, and here's a really cool little video from Livingston, to tease y'all.......
This 40 was on the east end of Laurel, An extreme zoom from the Livingston Depot, And returning helpers at Livingston west, with 290 in the set, And one of several video's. It is an extremely fun location due to the Depot's proximity to the tracks!
Earlier there was this train leaving, And immediately after those pushers ripped by, like the 2 seconds it took me to stop the first video, turn and notice the second train, then push record!
Can't believe 290 is still riding the rail!! Old Great Northern SDP40, glad it's still earning her keep AND in blue!
Some more MRL, after the very fun Railfair! The neat thing is seeing the 109! It was the first of a series of 26 GP-9's LRC rebuilt back in '95 and '96 with an upgraded electrical system. I got to be the lead electrical designer on that project, and trainer and foreman. This helper set is just tying down, And of course there is a video of the other side of the sets,
@badlandnp Wow, that's quite a swap meet! Hmmm, actually it looks like one of them there fancy-pants Montanan to-dos, with your carpeted floors and chandeliers... You'all probably strut around drinkin' champagne and eatin' dainty finger sandwiches while buying gold plated brass trains and solid silver solder .... ... ... Dag'gum high falutan Montatan snobs!
Nice digs for a train show! Beats school gyms and sports arenas by a long shot. But I'll take a train show in any kind of wrapping. First thought through my mind. Made me want to rent a tux.
And a fitting end to the weekend on Tuesday evening, this is just east of Terry, MT. The NP main followed the Yellowstone while just behind me is the Milw mainline from Baker, MT to Terry. And just behind me, after I turned around, this grain was heading west along the MILW,
And it was a double catch! Dorothy's cellphone camera acted up so we didn't get video of the grain train! Dang it!
So...now it's 2023. And off to the Livingston Railfair today, 22 April. Then next weekend the Helena Railfair on the 30th. They had a scheduling issue and got them separated by a bit. Next year they will be on the same weekend. Yesterday we drove over, with a timeline to get here before 1. The trip was fun, and we caught this BNSF sction at Twin Bridges, which is a neat location, Then the snow got heavier, and we saw the Military appreciation unit!! Tomorrow, chasing Big Blue....
I chased trains this morning, west out of Livingston. Mostly pumpkins, but some MRL surprises, too! The wi-fi at my motel is slow......so here's a short one that only took 15 minutes to upload. An all MRL light power surprise!
Looks like the usual helper set, (ACe, SD40, ACe)with the local (GP35,GP35)added in. I think the GP9 does switching in Logan......you see it there frequently. No idea what the extra SD40 is doing.
Very cool! I got my first Larry Fisher prints at Helena rail far in like 2007. A big 1968 GN calendar too. Great show!
Scratch that, it's a 1969. And Pride of the Northern Pacific, Fisher. I had it professionally framed years ago.
Yesterday was a day of rail drama. I went out early and caught a few video's of trains going up the pass, one of which I put up, (the wi-fi here is SLOOOOOOW,) then in the afternoon we went out to get a few things, and check trains. Didn't see any, so went to the Historic NP Beanery at the Depot for lunch. It was pretty good! Saw a BNSF coal train pulling in and stopping to get a helper set added on, so headed up to Muir, to try for a video of it there. Waited and waited, then heard the crew having issues. Listened and waited some more. As they began to decide that the lead power was broken, we headed back to town and got a short video of them trying to get a pull, lots of black smoke from the second unit every time the leader dropped it's load. So, we found a good spot and waited to video the Helpers lead the train back into the yard. (Mind you, this video took all night to upload!) So it was a fun afternoon of listening to the scanner and the crews troubles, watching trains, hanging out in the mountains and relaxing!