Christopher Muller

July 2008: Rebirth of the Cliffs Erie F9's and some BNSF action

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Railroad: Burlington Northern Santa Fe
Locomotive: no locomotive
Location: Station Sign
City: Cass Lake, Minnesota
Date: 07-01-2008
Remarks: Severe thunderstorm warnings continue for Cass County as thunderheads light up with lightening. At the worst of the storm, the tracks were actually under water.

Railroad: Burlington Northern Santa Fe
Locomotive: BNSF 1533 / BNSF 2933
Location: North of
City: Becker, Minnesota
Date: 07-09-2008
Remarks: A local waits for more traffic to clear before they head south. Shot was taken along side the tracks at 70MPH which created a slight blur for a cool effect.

Railroad: Amtrak
Locomotive: AMTK 165
Location: County Highway ET
City: Tunnel City, Wisconsin
Date: 07-11-2008
Remarks: Running nearly an hour late due to congestion and the emergency clearing of debris from the overnight storms, Amtrak is nearly at track speed as they fly over this county road overpass.

Railroad: Amtrak
Locomotive: AMTK 85
Location: Downtown
City: Tunnel City, Wisconsin
Date: 07-10-2008
Remarks: Amtrak blasts the horn four times as it enters the tunnel. Tunnel City is home to Wisconsin's only railroad tunnel and hosts lines from Canadian Pacific (Amtrak) and the Union Pacific.

Railroad: Amtrak
Locomotive: AMTK 85
Location: Downtown
City: Tunnel City, Wisconsin
Date: 07-10-2008
Remarks: Minutes before Amtrak arrived, the sun broke through the clouds and brought warm light to the scene, just seconds before the arrival of the Empire Builder, the clouds covered again.

Railroad: Canadian Pacific
Locomotive: CP 8793
Location: Tunnel
City: Tunnel City, Wisconsin
Date: 07-10-2008
Remarks: Heading into some filtered Sun, this Canadian Pacific manifest is about to hit the switch where the Union Pacific meets up for a trip through the tunnel.

Railroad: Amtrak
Locomotive: AMTK 85
Location: Downtown
City: Tunnel City, Wisconsin
Date: 07-10-2008
Remarks: As the Builder rolls through Tunnel City, a sliver of golden red light hits the side of the Superliners.

Railroad: Canadian Pacific
Locomotive: CP 8569
Location: County Highway M
City: Tunnel City, Wisconsin
Date: 07-10-2008
Remarks: Two trains were supposed to wait for Amtrak to pass through east of Tomah, but severe storms rolled through the area causing tree damage and slowed Amtrak at several spots.

Railroad: Union Pacific
Locomotive: Transfer Caboose
Location: Tunnel
City: Tunnel City, Wisconsin
Date: 07-10-2008
Remarks: Judging by the condition of the track, the Union Pacific tracks are pretty lightly used through Tunnel City so this was a treat to actually catch a train on the UP. This former MoPac Transfer Caboose was even a bigger surprise.

Railroad: Union Pacific
Locomotive: UP 376
Location: County Highway M
City: Tunnel City, Wisconsin
Date: 07-10-2008
Remarks: A pair of UP GP's lead this freight train through Tunnel City. The first part of the train was made up of mostly former CNW yellow hoppers.

Railroad: Union Pacific
Locomotive: UP 376
Location: Lisbon Rd
City: Sussex, Wisconsin (NW metro Milwaukee)
Date: 07-10-2008
Remarks: Traffic was light on the CN in the Milwaukee area, atleast when I was out trackside. A very typical CN freight rolls south on former Wisconsin Central trackage.

Railroad: Amtrak
Locomotive: AMTK 193
Location: N Plankinton Ave
City: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Date: 07-09-2008
Remarks: One of the several Hiawatha trains pulls away from the Milwaukee Downtown Amtrak Depot on their way back to Chicago. A car was nearly hit by this train after the went around the lowered crossing gates.

Railroad: Amtrak
Locomotive: AMTK 193
Location: N Plankinton Ave
City: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Date: 07-09-2008
Remarks: Pulling up for the last stop of this train, passengers get ready to exit the train where it will have a short layover before heading back to Chicago.

Railroad: Cliffs Erie Railroad
Locomotive: CE 4210
Location: Twin Island River Waterfall
City: Taconite Harbor, Minnesota
Date: 07-14-2008
Remarks: The railroad the doesn't want to die runs again. The infamous A-B-B-B F9's bring 12 loads of taconite products up the hill as they pass over the Twin Island River.

Railroad: Cliffs Erie Railroad
Locomotive: CE 4210
Location: Highway 61
City: Taconite Harbor, Minnesota
Date: 07-14-2008
Remarks: Taken out the window of K-Mad's car from Highway 61, the Cliffs Erie F9's are about to make their third trip over Highway 61 as they loop up the hills along Lake Superior's shoreline.

Railroad: Cliffs Erie Railroad
Locomotive: CE 4210
Location: Dyers Lake Road
City: Taconite Harbor, Minnesota
Date: 07-14-2008
Remarks: While it would have been nice to have a F9A unit to make a full A-B-B-B-A consist, watching and listening to F9's run in 2008 was simply amazing.

Railroad: Cliffs Erie Railroad
Locomotive: CE 4210
Location: Dyers Lake Road
City: Taconite Harbor, Minnesota
Date: 07-14-2008
Remarks: I had to take a shot of the F9's rolling through the trees. Watching this line criss cross through the hilly terrain is fascinating with the deep forests and hill tops.

Railroad: Cliffs Erie Railroad
Locomotive: CE 4210
Location: Dyers Lake Road
City: Taconite Harbor, Minnesota
Date: 07-14-2008
Remarks: While not as vintage as K-Mad may suggest, I nearly run up and kicked the pop can out of the way but the F9's were running light and got their too quick.

Railroad: Cliffs Erie Railroad
Locomotive: CE 4210
Location: Dyers Lake Road
City: Taconite Harbor, Minnesota
Date: 07-14-2008
Remarks: Mr. Cliffs Erie himself catches the F9's as they back towards Taconite Harbor to spot and haul another 12 loads up the hill.

Railroad: Cliffs Erie Railroad
Locomotive: CE 4210
Location: The Big Cuts
City: Taconite Harbor, Minnesota
Date: 07-14-2008
Remarks: Quite a hike to get to this vantage point, but it was well worth it. The train will pass directly behind me, only this time the train will be higher than where I am standing in this photo.

Railroad: Cliffs Erie Railroad
Locomotive: CE 4210
Location: The Big Cuts
City: Taconite Harbor, Minnesota
Date: 07-14-2008
Remarks: The F9's work hard, even with only 12 cars. This is the opposite of the moves this line was designed for. Normally taconite trains would be going down the hill to the dock, not up the hill to the plant.

Railroad: Cliffs Erie Railroad
Locomotive: CE 4210
Location: The Big Cuts
City: Taconite Harbor, Minnesota
Date: 07-14-2008
Remarks: About the closest you can get to mountain railroading in Minnesota...

Railroad: Cliffs Erie Railroad
Locomotive: CE 4210
Location: Dyers Lake Road
City: Taconite Harbor, Minnesota
Date: 07-14-2008
Remarks: The perfect wedgie shot of the F9's at work as they are about to pass over the Dyers Lake Road west of Taconite Harbor.

Railroad: Cliffs Erie Railroad
Locomotive: CE 4210
Location: Dyers Lake Road
City: Taconite Harbor, Minnesota
Date: 07-14-2008
Remarks: The closer the train got to Tunnel, the more clouds developed. As I was looking down the tunnel, I saw the front of the engine brighten up for a few seconds, just enough to see the opportunity for this shot. The train would back away to Taconite Harbor.

Railroad: Cliffs Erie Railroad
Locomotive: CE 4210
Location: The Dock
City: Taconite Harbor, Minnesota
Date: 07-14-2008
Remarks: With an endless sea in the background, the F9's back to pick up 12 loads and spot them on the dock before spotting 12 empties for loading. Once those are in place, the train will take the loads up to Tunnel Siding.

Railroad: Cliffs Erie Railroad
Locomotive: CE 4210
Location: Harbor Access Parking
City: Taconite Harbor, Minnesota
Date: 07-14-2008
Remarks: Even after so long and so many miles on their wheels, these F9's still look sharp.

Railroad: Cliffs Erie Railroad
Locomotive: CE 4210
Location: Bridge One
City: Taconite Harbor, Minnesota
Date: 07-14-2008
Remarks: Passing over the first bridge over Highway 61, the F9's pick up speed for the trip around the loops on their way to Tunnel Siding to pick up 12 more cars and then bring them to Trow.

Railroad: Cliffs Erie Railroad
Locomotive: CE 4210
Location: Cramer Road
City: Taconite Harbor, Minnesota
Date: 07-14-2008
Remarks: The horn is silent as the train nears the crossing. Since the signals aren't in operation, the railroad has a "flagman" get ahead of the trains and flag the crossings as they roll over them.

Railroad: Cliffs Erie Railroad
Locomotive: CE 4210
Location: Cramer Tunnel, West Portal
City: Cramer, Minnesota
Date: 07-14-2008
Remarks: The sign on the left reads "DANGER DO NOT ENTER NO CLEARANCE FAST MOVING TRAINS". While the train was anything but fast on this day, it was still awesome to see the train coming through the portal.

Railroad: Cliffs Erie Railroad
Locomotive: CE 4210
Location: Highway 1
City: Murphy City, Minnesota
Date: 07-14-2008
Remarks: With a hi-rail truck following close behind, the train of 24 cars is making their way to Trow where they will drop off the cars and head back to Taconite Harbor to call it a day.

Railroad: Canadian National / Duluth Missabe and Iron Range
Locomotive: CN unk
Location: North Coons
City: Saginaw, Minnesota
Date: 07-14-2008
Remarks: I was just on my way home from Duluth when I heard a train getting a warrant heading south from Alborn. The storms to the north were going to be my background, but that opportunity passed and I set up for this shot with the green to head south.

Railroad: Burlington Northern Santa Fe
Locomotive: BNSF 8039 / BNSF 8187
Location: Station Sign
City: Wilton, Minnesota
Date: 07-13-2008
Remarks: The Sunday afternoon edition of the M-SUPMIN rolls through Wilton as the evening shadows start to cast across the freshly moved grass along the tracks.

Railroad: Burlington Northern Santa Fe
Locomotive: BNSF 8039 / BNSF 8187
Location: East of
City: Wilton, Minnesota
Date: 07-13-2008
Remarks: A pair of cascade green EMD's break through the trees in Wilton on a perfect Sunday evening. With weather like this... I knew the next day would be an awesome day to shoot the Cliffs Erie F9's.

Railroad: Burlington Northern Santa Fe
Locomotive: BNSF 8852 / BNSF 9871 / BNSF 8878
Location: Highway 2
City: Shevlin, Minnesota
Date: 07-13-2008
Remarks: Just 21 miles north of the headwaters of the mighty Mississippi River, this trio of fair looking EMD's has no trouble with their Clay Boswell empties. The train will cross the Mississippi River twice on this line.

Railroad: Burlington Northern Santa Fe
Locomotive: BNSF 8852 / BNSF 9871 / BNSF 8878
Location: Highway 2
City: Solway, Minnesota
Date: 07-13-2008
Remarks: On the east side of Solway a couple of trucks have been hit by trains in recent years after their equipment has become hung up on the crossing. Hopefully they will now note this sign and be more alert to the possibility of getting hung up.

Railroad: Burlington Northern Santa Fe
Locomotive: BNSF 8852 / BNSF 9871 / BNSF 8878
Location: Siding
City: Rosby, Minnesota
Date: 07-13-2008
Remarks: Some of this rail is the oldest still in service. Some of the rail dates well before 1900. The siding is still frequently used for storage of hopper cars in the harvest seasons.

Railroad: Burlington Northern Santa Fe
Locomotive: BNSF 8852 / BNSF 9871 / BNSF 8878
Location: Farden Township
City: Cass Lake, Minnesota
Date: 07-13-2008
Remarks: Working hard and picking up speed, this trio of EMD's is dragging coal empties up the grade out of Cass Lake.

Railroad: Burlington Northern Santa Fe
Locomotive: BNSF 8038 / BNSF 8187
Location: Cass Lake Yard
City: Cass Lake, Minnesota
Date: 07-13-2008
Remarks: Pulled in the yard waiting for two other trains to clear out before a crew will take the M-SUPMIN west on a great July haze-free evening.

Railroad: Burlington Northern Santa Fe
Locomotive: BNSF 8852 / BNSF 9871 / BNSF 8878
Location: Cuba Hill
City: Cass Lake, Minnesota
Date: 07-13-2008
Remarks: Coming down one of the steeper grades on the Lakes Sub, this Clay Boswell coal empty will soon slow for a main-line crew change in Cass Lake before heading west on to the Grand Forks Sub for a clear trip to Grand Forks.

Railroad: Burlington Northern Santa Fe
Locomotive: BNSF 8190 / EMD xxxx
Location: Pike Bay Loop Road
City: Cass Lake, Minnesota
Date: 07-27-2008
Remarks: The train was stopped here for a crew change, then they started to pull out. Just as they started to take off a group of bikers approached. The crew slowed down and waved them through the crossing before proceeding west. This is the second attempt at a shot like this. the first was ruined by a car.

Railroad: Burlington Northern Santa Fe
Locomotive: BNSF 8190 / EMD xxxx
Location: Cuba Hill
City: Cass Lake, Minnesota
Date: 07-27-2008
Remarks: The EMD SD60 was really throwing the black smoke up as the crew notched up to notch 8 as they lug their healthy M-MINSUP up Cuba Hill.

Railroad: Burlington Northern Santa Fe
Locomotive: BNSF 9978 / BNSF 95xx / BNSF 9xxx
Location: Melby Lane
City: Wilton, Minnesota
Date: 07-27-2008
Remarks: It took four shots before I got this guy in good sun. The thick hazy afternoon sky combined with some scattered clouds made it tough to get a good shot.

Railroad: Burlington Northern Santa Fe
Locomotive: BNSF 6197 / BNSF xxxx / BNSF xxxx
Location: Shores of Pike Bay
City: Cass Lake, Minnesota
Date: 07-29-2008
Remarks: A shot I've wanted to try for quite some time actually worked out... kinda. I wanted to get a shot along the shores of Pike Bay but the lack of a good spot and thick trackside vegation made it tough.

Railroad: Burlington Northern Santa Fe
Locomotive: BNSF 6197 / BNSF xxxx / BNSF xxxx
Location: Shores of Pike Bay
City: Cass Lake, Minnesota
Date: 07-29-2008
Remarks: I'm sure the crew was never expecting me to be here considering there isn't any easy access, but they saw me and gave me a nice horn saulte as they passed by.

Railroad: Cliffs Erie
Locomotive: CE 4210
Location: Highway 61
City: Taconite Harbors, Minnesota
Date: 07-13-2008
Remarks: When I missed all of the "final runs" in 2004 I thought that was it and I would never be able to shoot the F9's. Who would've ever thought I'd get another chance in 2008.