415: BNSF's Fort Madison Swingbridge!

[Saturnalia]

Ep. 415: BNSF's Fort Madison Swingbridge

A big river and a busy railroad: welcome to Fort Madison, Iowa

To meet the needs of the rails, the road, and the river, BNSF predecessor ATSF constructed this impressive double-track, double-deck swingbridge over the Mississippi River. The largest of its kind, the massive movable bridge allows three forms of transportation to coexist while working the same piece of real estate.

Spend an evening on the western shore, as the three forms of transportation do their thing. BNSF's busy Southern Transcon provides a multitude of trains, with freight and even Amtrak's Southwest Chief. Midway through this film, the bridge even completes an opening cycle for an upbound river tow, allowing us to view the impressive bridge doing what it was designed to do: move out of the way of river traffic.

There is only one bridge like this one! Welcome to Fort Madison!

#1 BNSF WB Intermodal
Consist:
- BNSF ??? [GEVO]
- BNSF ??? [GEVO]
- BNSF ??? [GEVO]
- NS 7565 [ES40DC]
- ??? cars [Intermodal]
Location/Time:
- BNSF Chillicothe Sub, Fort Madison, IA, Mississippi River Bridge, on 8-8-14 at 18:02 CDT


#2 BNSF EB Intermodal
Consist:
- BNSF 8065 [ES44C4]
- BNSF 4648 [C44-9W]
- ??? cars [Intermodal]
Location/Time:
- BNSF Chillicothe Sub, Fort Madison, IA, Mississippi River Bridge, on 8-8-14 at 18:14 CDT

#3 MS River Barge & Swingbridge Opening
Consist:
- BNSF Mississippi River Swing Bridge opening for tugboat with 15 barges. Tug is Virginia Ingram of Ingram Barge Co.
Location/Time:
- BNSF Chillicothe Sub, Fort Madison, IA, Mississippi River Swing Bridge, on 8-8-14 from 18:25 to 18:45 CDT

#4 BNSF SB Coal Train
Consist:
- BNSF 6204 [ES44AC]
- BNSF 9046 [SD70MAC]
- ??? cars [Loaded coal gons]
Location/Time:
- BNSF Hannibal Subdivision, Fort Madison, IA, Iowa Route 2 xing, on 8-8-14 at 18:41 CDT
*As 429 is occurring*

#5 AMTK #3 Southwest Chief WB
Consist:
- AMTK 114 [P42DC]
- AMTK 188 [P42DC]
- 1 Baggage Car
- 8 Superliners
Location/Time:
- BNSF Chillicothe Sub, Fort Madison, IA, Mississippi River Swing Bridge, on 8-8-14 at 18:48 CDT

#6 BNSF EB Intermodal
Consist:
- BNSF 5327 [C44-9W]
- BNSF 6844 [ES44C4]
- BNSF ??? [GEVO]
- BNSF ??? [GEVO]
- ??? cars [Intermodal]
Location/Time:
- BNSF Chillicothe Sub, Fort Madison, IA, Mississippi River Swing Bridge, on 8-8-14 at 18:50 CDT

#7 BNSF WB Autorack
Consist:
- BNSF 6211 [ES44AC]
- BNSF 6010 [ES44AC]
- 78 cars [Autoracks]
Location/Time:
- BNSF Chillicothe Sub, Fort Madison, IA, Mississippi River Swing Bridge, on 8-8-14 at 18:58 CDT

#8 BNSF WB Intermodal
Consist:
- BNSF 7591 [ES44DC]
- BNSF ??? [C44-9W]
- BNSF 6642 [ES44C4]
- ??? cars [Intermodal]
- BNSF ??? [GEVO]
- BNSF ??? [GEVO]
Location/Time:
- BNSF Chillicothe Sub, Fort Madison, IA, Mississippi River Swing Bridge, on 8-8-14 at 19:50 CDT
*Races 435*

#9 BNSF WB Lite Power
Consist:
- BNSF 6905 [ES44C4]
- BNSF ??? [C44-9W]
- BNSF 7361 [ES44DC]
- BNSF 54?? [C44-9W]
- BNSF 6108 [ES44AC]
- BNSF ??? [GEVO]
Location/Time:
- BNSF Chillicothe Sub, Fort Madison, IA, Mississippi River Swing Bridge, on 8-8-14 at 19:55 CDT
*Races 434*

#10 BNSF WB Intermodal
Consist:
- BNSF 7565 [ES44DC]
- BNSF 4442 [C44-9W]
- BNSF 7308 [ES44DC]
- ??? cars [Intermodal]
Location/Time:
- BNSF Chillicothe Sub, Fort Madison, IA, Mississippi River Swing Bridge, on 8-8-14 at 20:10 CDT


#11 BNSF WB Corn Syrup
Consist:
- BNSF ??? [C44-9W]
- BNSF ??? [C44-9W]
- ??? cars [Corn Syrup Tanks]
Location/Time:
- BNSF Chillicothe Sub, Fort Madison, IA, Mississippi River Swing Bridge, on 8-8-14 at 20:15 CDT

If you liked this video, check out this documentary-style video encompassing the entire Chillicothe Subdivision in August 2014:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5m7qgisty0

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