'Builders, Locals and Much More - April 9 Duplainville Trip Part 2

Train #12: Amtrak 8 Empire Builder eastbound, 2:17 PM
AMTK 199 (P42DC)
AMTK 15 (P42DC)

Today's eastbound Empire Builder had four excursion cars from the 261 fleet tacked onto the rear. What a catch! This was the first of a parade of eastbounds on the CP.

Train #13: CP 398 EB unit grain, 2:29 PM
CP 8739 (ES44AC)
CEFX 1019 (AC4400CW)

Hey, a GEVO with a real bell! The trailing unit is the cleanest and brightest blue CEFX unit I've ever seen.

Train #3-B: CP G67 Watertown local EB, 2:39 PM
SOO 4418 (GP38-2)
SOO 4405 (GP38-2)

Train #14: CP 802 EB coke loads, 3:21 PM
CP 9604 (AC4400CW)
CP 5951 (SD40-2)

Train #15: CN SB manifest, 3:52 PM
CN 8838 (SD70M-2)
CN 2418 (C40-8M)
CN 8844 (SD70M-2)

Train #16: Amtrak 7 Empire Builder westbound, 4:18 PM
AMTK 78 (P42DC)
AMTK 4 (P42DC)

Watch the conductor's window!

Train #17: CP 283 WB manifest, 5:27 PM
CEFX 1034 (AC4400CW)
SOO 6027 (SD60)
SOO 4416 (GP38-2)

Our tenacity paid off, as most of the rest of the railfan crowd had left before this best lashup of the day on CP came through.

Train #18-A: CN L504 Waukesha local NB, 5:37 PM
GTW 5849 (GP38-2)

This train went north across the diamond immediately after 283 cleared. Here they are seen slowing to a stop to make a pickup from the North Duplainville sidings.

Train #19 MISSED: WSOR T3 (JH) approx. 5:55 PM
WSOR 4003 (SD40-2)
WSOR 4001 (SD40-2)
WSOR 4004 (SD40-2)

Of all the misses, this was the only one that really stung. We didn't hear this get permission to get on the CN at Grand Ave. in Waukesha, probably because we weren't paying attention while watching L504 switch. We packed up from what would have been a perfect vantage point next to L504 and started south on Duplainville Rd. to set up for the next CP eastbound. We hadn't been driving for more than a minute when Justin spotted headlights coming up rapidly from the south! I spun around and took some liberties with the speed limit back north up the road to the County K intersection.

I only had enough time to pull into the gravel area by the crossing signal case, stop and roll down the passenger window so Justin could grab a shaky video as the train blasted past, beautifully lit by the evening sun to the west, K5LA screaming and 645s roaring, pouring smoke into the sky. Here is a link to Justin's video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li0JkFmDiWc

Train #20 MISSED BY ME: CP 280 EB manifest, 6:08 PM
CP 9718 (AC4400CW)
CP 9535 (AC4400CW)

After that excitement, we set up for this train, but my camcorder battery finally died as it approached. Its time remaining indicator is worthless because it goes from fully charged/120 minutes remaining to flashing a low battery warning after five minutes of use, so there's no way to tell when it's actually about to die. Here is a link to Justin's video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ffkn1gDVixI

Train #21 MISSED BY ME: CN NB manifest, 6:29 PM
CN 2233 (ES44DC)
CN 5682 (SD70I)
CN 2296 (ES44DC)
IC 2462 (C40-8W)
CN 2273 (ES44DC)

We were set up on the CN waiting for L504 to come back south, when it took the siding instead. This northbound soon approached, but just as the power passed the battery on my backup video camera (my old Sony digital still camera's MPEG movie mode) failed me as well! Here is a link to Justin's video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RJ1igmszmc

Train #18-B: CN L504 Waukesha local SB, 6:37 PM

GTW 5849 returns home long-hood forward. I had taken the battery out of my backup camera and warmed it in my hands, and managed to get it to last long enough to record this train.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• train
• railroad
• railway
• railfan
• Amtrak
• Empire
• Builder
• Canadian
• Pacific
• CP
• Rail
• National
• CN
• Grand
• Trunk
• Western
• GTW
• CEFX
• Soo
• Line
• GE
• P42DC
• ES44AC
• AC4400CW
• EMD
• GP38-2
• SD70M-2
• locomotive

[NebulaTrain99]

At the 4:50 mark, was that "A Shave and a Haircut"?

[HighIronofWisconsin]

@NebulaTrain99 Yes it was!

[GenesisSanctuary]

Excellent video, Andy! I think CP is the only railroad to use ES44ACs that have mechanical bells.

[HighIronofWisconsin]

@GenesisSanctuary I think 8700-8749 have them, 8750-8899 have e-bells.

[IAISrailfanner]

I once missed JH also.I was quite embarassed.I once been in Grand Avenue in Waukesha.There were multiple signals there.I wonder if you can access that location.

[joshmeister4449]

i used to railfan there

[collegeboy1083]

I was on train #8 coming into St. Paul and got several pictures of the Super Dome and Skytop. I also was riding back to Havre on #7 Saturday night with the exact same consist. Great train crew and the K5LA on 199 was absolutely beautiful!

[GenesisSanctuary]

@HighIronofWisconsin Cool.

[DYP1420]

Nice Video!!

Didnt know Amtrak had these on this day but at least they will have them on a few more times this year!

[vinylelvis1]

WoW,some great railfanning spots! Loved the Empire Builder at the begining with the private cars tagged on the end! I hate how they miss match the baggage cars with the Bi-level cars! Great video!