Last Saturday I headed south to run along the former Nee-Nee line (Nebraska Northeastern) which is now the BNSF O'Neil sub. It runs along the roof of Nebraska and is one of those obscure lines ignored by most foamers. However, I never made it that far. After crossing the river and going into Iowa at Sioux City, I spotted a BNSF grain train heading north on the Aberdeen sub. I've never caught a train on that line despite it being only an hour away. I turned my car back around and began heading north. It was a hot day, over 90 degrees, and BNSF only lets the trains run on jointed rail at 5-10 mph. I knew I'd be getting plenty of shots! The train went from Sioux City IA to Mitchell SD, with a crew change in Scotland, SD. It's a distance of about 150 miles, but it took nearly 12 hours. All of these shots are my first from these locations after wanting them for twenty years! This is a branch line with not a lot of traffic on it.
1. Train crosses into South Dakota over the Big Sioux River.
2. Passing the tubes at Elk Point, SD Trains no longer load at this elevator.
3. Vermillion, SD. Trains no longer load at this elevator.
4. Crossing the James River near Yankton, SD
5. Yellow board near Lesterville, SD (Shot taken with 400mm lens, train >200 yards out, 10 mph.)
6. Scotland, SD. Trains no longer load here.
7. Ethan, SD. Trains no longer load here since a bigger new complex was built south of town.
Kent in SD