BN Oly Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> WHats EWGs operating pattern these days? Was
> planning a fall trip over there to see some tunnel
> motor action but i guess i will get some U Boat
> action too!

EWG operating pattern is typical of many shortlines. Trains move when the customer needs them.

Here is a typical pattern. Day 1 - BNSF's Lind Turn brings empties to Cheney in the late afternoon. EWG then starts them west that evening with the plan to have them spotted by 7am the following day. The locos are then left at the west most point where empties were spotted. Day 2 - Cars are loaded and the train starts east that evening, arriving in Cheney sometime on Day 3. As you can guess, this cycle results in a lot of night running. Depending on how far west we are going, the move may require two crews. Ditto for the eastbound move.

If there are steel loads for the Geiger spur, the westbound train may make a side trip to spot these loads. If there are empties on the Geiger spur, the eastbound train may make a side trip to fetch the empties and take them on into Cheney. The BNSF Lind turn runs Mon-Fri. The sometimes run a Saturday train, called the "scud", which may bring grain cars to Cheney. They may start west on Saturday or even wait until Sunday, but with the plan to have the empties spotted by 7am Monday.

Geiger spur turns (26 mile round trip) will be run out of Cheney if there are steel loads headed out to the spur.

It is all about good customer service which EWG works hard to provide.

Beyond Deep Creek, just west of Fairchild AFB, EWG mostly follows US highway 2 all the way to Coulee City. Most of the elevators are close to this highway. If you are traveling east on US 2 you can check the elevators to see if empties are spotted or loads are ready for pickup.