Slide Show: "A Visit to North Platte"

[C855B]

a/k/a "What I did on my summer vacation."

The UPHS convention was held in North Platte this year, and given the number of current and retired UP employees among our members, we were afforded unusual access to facilities - the 25¢ tour versus the nickel tour normally given to visiting dignitaries.

We'll start with a going away shot of one of our more "famous" members, Bob Krieger, departing from our lineside dinner in his Honda Element decaled for his role in the UP steam program:



And a couple of shots of the (very busy) triple-track in front of the dinner hall:

[C855B]

The following day started with a tour of the local community college extension, heavily funded by UP for training programs. An air brake training rig:



You probably didn't know that the EMD 645 came in a 4-cylinder version. (Well, it actually didn't, this is a cut down block for training purposes. But they did a lot of work making sure that all the bits were intact, including the Roots blower.):



A close-up of GE guts:



Cab simulator. However, they couldn't tell me which locomotive comes with a 4-drawer filing cabinet and a laser printer:

[C855B]

Next on the schedule was a tour of the North Platte yard and diesel maintenance facility.





This was NOT the result of a turbo fire, but a cracked fuel line. There were two on the heavier repair line being pieced back together:





Blue flags. My wife (the art director) thought it to be an artsy juxtaposition:

[C855B]

Out in the yard. Unfortunately, we were confined to the bus (for obvious reasons), most photography was through bus windows, so I didn't waste many electrons. However, here is the through trains inspection yard from the flyover:



An unusual view - inside the "Crack House", a one-of-a-kind inspection bay where wheels undergo ultrasonic testing for defects while moving. The cars actually ride on their flanges through the scanners:

[C855B]

The convention done for this year, on Sunday we spent time lineside at a location a few miles east of NP known to railroaders as "Buttermilk Curve". Don't know why, that's what we were told. Great for watching trains, not so hot for photography - the photo access is from the north side, and really only good for eastbounds. Beautiful S-curve, however, which I fully intend to model:





One of (too many) westbounds:





Fun with stacks:



[sigh] Another westbound:





Maybe a little bit of redemption. Sun on the wrong side, tho':

[C855B]

Miscellaneous. The "100th Meridian" signboard from my MRR's namesake:



An unusual shot, actually a frame capture from a HERO2, which I was trying out as a railfanning "dash cam" on this trip, considering we were following a line so busy that it was going to be impossible to stop for pix of every train and still expect to get to our destination. Note that this is a solid trio of SD40-2's with fresh paint. This was on our way to the convention, so I showed the video to a group to help with my puzzlement over the "antique" power. They said the NP shops are maintaining a few sets like this for use on locals:

[James Costello]

Great report Mike. Hope to get there myself one day to check out the triple track action, so I really enjoyed the photos.

[C855B]

Thanks, James! We had a great time. It really helps when your spouse is a railfan, too.

Afterthought... the most notable program from the UPHS convention was a panel discussion presented by retirees of the UP Heritage steam program. It was two hours of back-slapping fish stories from especially Steve Lee and Bob Krieger, and they would have gone on all evening if not interrupted by the convention host trying to pry us out of our seats and into the dinner hall.

The most interesting story to us was prompted by a question from the audience, "OK, we've heard a bunch of fun stuff about a lot of trips. What was your worst excursion experience?" In a chorus (four of 'em, I think), it was "CSX!!!" The 3985 was recruited by somebody at CSX's publicity department for their Santa Claus tour, to be dressed-up and renumbered to represent one of Clinchfield's near-identical Challengers. Problem was, that somebody apparently didn't tell the rest of the railroad. From the trip preparation and line reconnaissance to the actual tour, there was nothing but no cooperation or negative cooperation, including "WHAT are you doing on my railroad!???!" digging-in of heels. It was really, really bad, evidently. They said that every day had its own disaster, making for weeks of 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. workdays. "Never again!", was the summation after hearing about some really hairy near misses, including a major river bridge popping rivets under the weight of the loco as they traveled across... very slowly.

I've been not-a-fan of CSX since I lived in Atlanta a zillion years ago, but the "insider's view" was... well... frightening.

[Bendtracker1]

The convention done for this year, on Sunday we spent time lineside at a location a few miles east of NP known to railroaders as "Buttermilk Curve". Don't know why, that's what we were told.

This place is more commonly referred to as "The Brady Curves"  As in Brady, NE.

They call it "Buttermilk Curve", or "Butter Maker Curve" as it's about the only spot on the line between Omaha and Cheyenne where the tracks curves enough to shift the loads.
In case you didn't notice on your trip, 99.9% of the track is straight as an arrow!   

[C855B]

Thanks for the etymology!

In case you didn't notice on your trip, 99.9% of the track is straight as an arrow!

Oh, yes. One of the reasons I go there. I fell in love with this sleepy bit of railroad in the '60s, back in the day of GTEL8500's and double diesels. Nonstop traffic and big power. Three tracks, no waiting. 

[GaryHinshaw]

I fell in love with this sleepy bit of railroad in the '60s, back in the day of GTEL8500's and double diesels.

Neat trip - thanks for the photos.  Here's a shot that just showed up today on RP that you'll probably enjoy:

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/406034

[C855B]

You betcha, Gary! Thanks! Shots of the 855's in service are rare rare rare, and two in the same consist are even more uncommon. They were notoriously unreliable and the odds of both failing on the road would be pretty high.