BNSF Marias Pass; East Glacier To Essex, Montana - 9.21 / 9.23

Give us a run down of what you saw, post pictures if you'd like...any info is welcome.
ConrailDetr​oit
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BNSF Marias Pass; East Glacier To Essex, Montana - 9.21 / 9.23

Unread post by ConrailDetr​oit »

9/21; A Westbound Intermodal at the Continental Divide - Elevation 5,216

ImageBNSF Unit Intermodal at Marias Summit by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageTOFC at Marias Summit by tcamp7837, on Flickr

9/22

A Westbound Grain Train passes the Amtrak Station at East Glacier Park then climbs the 2 Percent Grade to the Continental Divide.

ImageBNSF 3813 - East Glacier Park, Montana by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Unit Grain Climbing the Marias Summit by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Unit Grain Climbing the Marias Summit by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Unit Grain Climbing the Marias Summit by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Unit Grain - US 2, Montana by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Unit Grain Climbing the Marias Summit by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF 3813 - Control Point Bison, Hi Line Sub by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Unit Grain, US 2, Montana by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Unit Grain - US 2, Montana by tcamp7837, on Flickr

Control Point Summit

ImageBNSF 3813 - Control Point Summit, Hi Line Sub by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF 3813 - Control Point Summit, Hi Line Sub by tcamp7837, on Flickr

Ballast Train - Java Creek Bridge

ImageBNSF over Java Creek Bridge by tcamp7837, on Flickr

Essex, Montana

ImageBNSF

Unit Grain - Essex, MT
by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Lite Engines - Essex, MT by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Lite Engines & Unit Grain - Essex, MT by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageSpilled Grain by tcamp7837, on Flickr

Work Train & Snow Plow Tied Down

ImageBN Caboose & Snow Plow - Essex, MT by tcamp7837, on Flickr

Amtrak #7; The Empire Builder departing Essex at sunset.

ImageAmtrak Empire Builder - Essex, MT by tcamp7837, on Flickr

The next morning, the Work Train shoves out of Essex Yard with the Burlington Northern Caboose. Trackwork was being performed between Control Points Java East and Blacktail.

ImageBNSF Work Train shoving out of Essex Yard by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Work Train shoving out of Essex Yard by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Work Train shoving out of Essex Yard by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Work Train shoving out of Essex Yard by tcamp7837, on Flickr

They held on the yard lead to let Amtrak #8; The Eastbound Empire Builder get ahead, then would follow.

ImageAmtrak Empire Builder & BN Caboose - Essex, MT by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBurlington Northern Caboose - Essex, MT by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBN Track Crane by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF 7613 - Essex, MT Amtrak Station by tcamp7837, on Flickr

An Eastbound Tank Train crosses the Java Creek Bridge with a rear Pusher engine.

ImageTanks - Java Creek Bridge by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Pusher over Java Creek by tcamp7837, on Flickr

Passing through the Snowsheds constructed by The Great Northern.

ImageBNSF - Great Northern Snowshed by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Unit Tanks - Snowshed #8 by tcamp7837, on Flickr

Climbing the Grade to the Continental Divide

ImageBNSF Unit Tanks - Climbing the Continental Divide by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Unit Tanks - Blacktail, Hi Line Sub by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Unit Tanks - Climbing the Continental Divide by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Unit Tanks - Climbing the Continental Divide by tcamp7837, on Flickr

Descending from the Continental Divide

ImageBNSF Units Tanks, Descending from the Continental Divide by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Unit Tanks - BNSF Units Tanks, Descending from the Continental Divide by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Unit Tanks - False Summit, MT by tcamp7837, on Flickr

ImageBNSF Units Tanks, Descending from the Continental Divide by tcamp7837, on Flickr

Crossing the Bridge over the Two Medicine Creek.

ImageBNSF Unit Tanks - Two Medicine Creek Bridge by tcamp7837, on Flickr

David Lang
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Re: BNSF Marias Pass; East Glacier To Essex, Montana - 9.21 / 9.23

Unread post by David Lang »

Beautiful Pictures Contrail Detroit! Thanks for sharing your adventure. Montana is amazing - got to get there myself someday.

David Lang

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AARR
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Re: BNSF Marias Pass; East Glacier To Essex, Montana - 9.21 / 9.23

Unread post by AARR »

Great pictures and report as usual CRD! The trains must have been moving slowly in order for you to chase them to different locations.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...

ConrailDetr​oit
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Re: BNSF Marias Pass; East Glacier To Essex, Montana - 9.21 / 9.23

Unread post by ConrailDetr​oit »

AARR wrote:
Mon Oct 12, 2020 6:50 am
Great pictures and report as usual CRD! The trains must have been moving slowly in order for you to chase them to different locations.
When climbing the mountain, yes; slower and full throttle.

When descending from the mountain no; faster, less throttle, and lots of dynamic braking.

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DaveO
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Re: BNSF Marias Pass; East Glacier To Essex, Montana - 9.21 / 9.23

Unread post by DaveO »

Interesting that the snowshed is numbered to be seen from the road.

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