Re: Stampede Pass question
Author: George Andrews
Date: 10-05-2013 - 09:50
Yea -- I'm wondering about that " 13 trains a day " deal myself. Dmac844, can you confirm this figure -- it seems a bit high for me on this line.
I do know that last week, after the E/B AAPRCO passenger special went through Ellensburg, there was an E/B Grain MTs about an hour behind, then @ Bristol siding an E/B Coal MTs.
The way BNSF has the Stampede line configured currently is a combination of Track Warrant Control with CTC " pockets " at the few sidings ( Kanasket, Lester, Bristol, and Ellensburg, along with 2 main tracks between Easton and Bull Frog ). I suppose this works well when traffic is one direction, and it is good for the foamer with a scanner, as you will hear the train crew giving back track to the DS for a following train. I noticed last week that Twin City Foods in Ellensburg had several reefers spotted for loading, which means a local out of Yakima ( or maybe Pasco ???) runs against the flow of traffic at least that far.