 |
Re: Kettle Falls International Railway (KFR) Question??
Author: Hoghead 1
Date: 10-17-2010 - 17:28
The KFR runs three jobs out of Kettle Falls each weekday. The job that goes to Waneta/Columbia Gardens, BC, goes on duty at 0700, and usually does a little switching in Kettle to finish making up their train before leaving town about 0800 or so. It rates three leased GP40-2s for power, of GMTX and HLCX variety. It will run up to Canada, do their switching, and get as far back to Kettle as their hours of service will allow. Some days that is all the way, some days it is far short.
The local valley job comes on duty at 1000, and uses two blue and grey Omnitrax units (a GP35 and GP38-3) for power. They switch out the yard and do local industry work around town. Usually twice a week in the early afternoon (days and frequency vary according to traffic), this job will also work up to Grand Forks, BC. Again, they will get as far back to Kettle as their hours will allow, usually dog catching themselves somewhere on the line the next day. On days that they don't go to or from Grand Forks, this job will also run down to Colville and Arden for industry work there.
The BNSF interchange job comes on duty at 1800 in Kettle, and uses the same power as the Waneta job. It will go and dog catch the Waneta train if needed, then gather up cars in Kettle/West Kettle before heading down the valley to Chewelah to interchange with the BNSF. If the valley job didn't get to it, they will also stop at Colville and Arden on their way south. This train can often be quite big, running in the seven to nine thousand ton range, many times in both directions. It generally always makes it back to Kettle before the crew runs out of time.
The max speed on the railroad is 25 MPH, with a lot of 10 MPH running as well. It is quite easy to stay ahead of the trains, and there are plenty of excellent photo locations.
The local valley job comes on duty at 1000, and uses two blue and grey Omnitrax units (a GP35 and GP38-3) for power. They switch out the yard and do local industry work around town. Usually twice a week in the early afternoon (days and frequency vary according to traffic), this job will also work up to Grand Forks, BC. Again, they will get as far back to Kettle as their hours will allow, usually dog catching themselves somewhere on the line the next day. On days that they don't go to or from Grand Forks, this job will also run down to Colville and Arden for industry work there.
The BNSF interchange job comes on duty at 1800 in Kettle, and uses the same power as the Waneta job. It will go and dog catch the Waneta train if needed, then gather up cars in Kettle/West Kettle before heading down the valley to Chewelah to interchange with the BNSF. If the valley job didn't get to it, they will also stop at Colville and Arden on their way south. This train can often be quite big, running in the seven to nine thousand ton range, many times in both directions. It generally always makes it back to Kettle before the crew runs out of time.
The max speed on the railroad is 25 MPH, with a lot of 10 MPH running as well. It is quite easy to stay ahead of the trains, and there are plenty of excellent photo locations.
