Surprise On The Down
During the chase of BNSF 4986 E along the Hi-Line Subdivision, the eastbound grain train would meet a westbound grain train that was in the hole at NYACK waiting for clearance down the pass. It was 13:35 by the time both trains met, and I figured it would make sense to break off the eastbound and chase the westbound back down the pass towards Columbia Falls and grab lunch afterwards. I had no clue was on the head end for power either; who knew what it was, it could’ve been something good, which only added to my reasoning. Dispatch wasted no time giving the westbound a light towards Whitefish, kicking off a brief 20-somethin-minute long chase through the Flathead Range.

An opening in the foliage along U.S. Route 2 at Bad Rock Canyon along the Flathead River proved to be a suitable spot to set up at, although by all means not a unique angle [the geotags at this location on RailfanAtlas say so]. At 14:07, the westbound would come into sight weaving it’s way along the northern banks of the River downgrade approaching CONKELLEY. #BNSF5828 [ES44AC] and #BNSF1018 [Dash 9-44CW] lead the company grain train through the Canyon trodding over a heavily graffitied retaining wall. The two lead units sport distinguishable paint scheme, neither of which are widely used on the roster.

5828 has the distinction of being the first of ten “25th Anniversary”GEVO’s painted in Mid-America Car in 2020 for BNSF. The units sport the decals of eight predecessor railroads: The CB&amp;Q, Great Northern, Northern Pacific, Burlington Northern, ATSF, Frisco, Colorado &amp; Southern, and the Spokane, Portland &amp; Seattle. The trailing 1018 sports the railroad’s “Heritage 1” paint, the company’s first official paint scheme introduced in 1996. Two other BNSF motors would bring up the rear in DP position; a 2x2 grain train.
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Columbia Falls, MT
BNSF Hi-Line Subdivision

Date: 07/30/2022 | 14:07

ID: [unknown]
Type: Grain
Direction: Westbound 
Car Count: 115

1. BNSF ES44AC #5828 [25th Anniversary] 
2. BNSF C44-9W #1018
3. BNSF C44-9W #5044 [DPU]
4. BNSF ES44C4 #6599 [DPU]
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© Vicente Alonso 2022
bnsf5828 bnsf1018