Rochelle IL 10/25/08

[ns8401]

Was In Rochelle from 11am till 5pm today.

1) 1110am EB UP 5140 (SD70M) 80 Empty Well Platforms
2) 1115am EB BNSF 4457 BNSF 4547 54 Platforms Loaded Stacks
3) 1140am WB UP 4259 UP 4996 97 Cars Mixed
4) 1143am EB UP 5887 SP 199 135 Loaded EDGX Coal UP 5664 Pushing
5) 1210pm EB BNSF 822 UP 4093 27 Grain Cars
6) 1235pm EB UP 4084 UP 9694 UP 3859 66 Cars Mixed
7) 1250pm WB UP 5495 UP 3964 UP 4230 40 Loaded Platforms UP 7694 Pushing
113pm WB UP 6502 SP/UP 6243 123 Empty Coal
9) 123pm EB BNSF 7411 BNSF 4302 133 Platforms Loaded Stacks
10) 131pm WB UP 5494 UP 8395 49 Platforms Loaded Stacks
11) 225pm WB UP 9592 UP 4904 126 Mixed
12) 238pm WB UP 5526 UP 9615 45 Platforms Loaded Stacks
13) 250pm EB BNSF 6068 BNSF 5649 93 Stacks/TOFC
14) 313pm WB UP 8213 UP 7095 125 Empty Coal
15) 333pm EB BNSF 7587 BNSF 783 BNSF 5117 117 Platforms Loaded Stacks
16) 338pm WB BNSF 4884 BNSF 6084 145 Platforms Loaded Stacks
17) 341pm EB BNSF 6700 BNSF 603 57 Loaded Racks
18) 345pm WB UP 4806 UP 4963 UP 5172 76 COFC
19) 353pm EB BNSF 5256 42 BNSF (Mostly) Tankcars of Diesel Fuel.
20) 356pm EB UP 7898 UP 4682 41 Platforms Loaded Stacks
21) 401pm EB UP 4181 UP 3787 UP 8418 LIGHT POWER
22) 429pm WB BNSF 4099 BNSF 4572 BNSF 5499 89 COFC/TOFC Platforms
23) 441pm EB UP 7787 63 Platforms Loaded Stacks UP 4166 UP 6784 Pushing
24) 441pm EB UP 5294 UP 4784 59 Platforms Loaded Stacks UP 7878 Pushing
25) 501pm WB UP 7688 UP 4496 UP 9730 81 Loaded Racks

[Rick M]

Thanks for the report I can't imagine seeing that much UP and BNSF power in one day. I really need experience Rochelle and will try and head out there next year. I guess I need a break from the standard NS and CSX.

How are the surrounding towns such as Creston, Malta and Steward for railfanning? I was just curious what that area was like so I am not pinned down at the depot all day.

[ns8401]

Nice and very rural rolling hills and cornfields, really nice small towns very quiet places. In Malta a UP train had the DPU dump the air it was fun to watch them work on everything that they had to fix as a result.

[West Butler]

If you like to see coal trains working then head east out of Rochelle to Mulford Road. That is where the dump is and that is the middle of Creston Hill (3 percent grade or 6 miles long). Excellent place to hear coal trains whine.

Want fast BNSF action - any road crossings east of Steward to Lee. Many of these crossings have been closed and speed limits were raised.

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Roche ... code=61068

Lived in Rochelle until 2001

[sd70accsxt700]

(3 percent grade or 6 miles long)

That is steeper then Sand Patch, and there is no mountains that big in Ill. Mabey a 1/4 or 1/2 percent for 6 miles, but not 3%