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2024 Sandpoint 2
Written by Lindsay Korst
gngoat@gngoat.org
Wednesday, July 31st
I had so much fun 'fanning
BNSF's Kootenai River Sub last month... Let's do it again! I wanted to pay
more attention to the former-Northern Pacific Depot in Sandpoint and how they
managed to squeeze the second main track past its platform.
But first, some trainspotting on the way up there.
The first shot of the day is this eastbound S train on Main 2 at BNSF Silver
waiting for some trackwork ahead to clear up.
THE BARN! Valley Vista Ranch is a great morning shot, especially for
westbounds...or in this case, if your eastbound S train has a rear DPU facing
west.
Everybody Yang Ming tonight!
That last picture was taken Friday, July 19th - just a grab shot of a WB on
another trip.
Despite chasing the S at flank speed, he beat me to the Bottle Bay Road crossing
at Sagle. Thus foiling my plans for some choice bridge shots. Plan B is
searching for another overlook -- with a place to park.
Poulin Drive! I found a Plan B. A small access road atop the cliff overlooking
the two BNSF bridges below -- a perfect aerie for a morning view. Bonus: I did
not go past any No Trespassing signs. Bring a long camera lens, though.
This WB V train had only 1 engine with no DPU as it trundled along on Main 1. I
challenge you to a duel!
About a half hour later, a WB Z train happened by with 3 units leading and 2
pushing. Main 1 is the "new" bridge with Main 2 lower and rebuilt alongside.
Sandpoint Depot - Idaho's only Amtrak stop.
On another day (July 19th again), the Mrs. and I thoroughly checked out this
ex-NP station. As a Train Magnet, Baolu attracted two westbounds. But first,
let's check out the building.
The font and style of the station sign looks almost GN-ish. The door into the
waiting room is on a timer for when EB & WB Empire Builders call
(oh-dark-thirty). Just a peek inside reveals an old-style bench.
Just as we arrived, a train appeared with just enough time for a grab shot of
the south end of the building. It was a grain train on Main One featuring a
"Heritage" BNSF predecessor "The Denver Road" hopper car. Another view of the
two DPU units passing the station signs.
Between trains, I walked around to the north end of the building. In the second
view, you can see the original platform has been completely removed with Main
One right up against the operator's bay window. It's a tight fit. Note the
"communications shed" across the tracks.
It wasn't long before a merchandise train trundled by on Main Two. You can see
the stubby platform in the foreground - just about enough room to spot ONE
Superliner for loading/unloading. This train also had a BNSF "Santa Fe Railway"
hopper car in the consist.
Moving back to July 31st (for the rest of this story, I promise...), I sought
another view from the communications shack previously mentioned. It's a well-lit
view of Sandpoint Station except for the brown wheelchair-lift shed. Que sera
sera.
It wasn't long before an EB H train arrived. Look at all those units - I count 9
fuel tanks - rolling up Main One. To add to the train hype, a WB freight came
down Main 2 for a meet shot. I decided to chase the "power move" east.
At Colburn, a WB Z was holding on the main. The Z had just one unit fore and aft
and was so long, it hung out beyond the end of the siding.
Once the power move H was in the clear, the Z zipped west and it was the
merchandise's turn to roll past in the sunlight. Nice shots, eh?
Elmira was the next siding east and a WB Q stacker train was holding the main
for my H. Those old GN rails in the Panhandle were BUSY today!
At McArthur, I got stabbed by a road construction - bridge replacement, allowing
BNSF #3853 East to slip past me.
Luck was still with me at Naples as my H train took siding for yet another meet.
How about that? A 10th unit (BNSF #7776) is pushing away as DPU. That's a lot of
horsepower.
Coming down the main is a WB loaded Oil train with two units front and rear.
Anacortes, here we come!
Deep Creek is a nice shady spot to park the truck out of the hot midday sun.
After a short wait, an EB S train rumbles over the road and creek and plunges
into a tunnel.
An hour later, a WB Grainer pops out of the bore and SURPRISE! displays a MRL
#4305 SD70ACe pushing for all it is worth.
On to Bonners Ferry. I was hoping to catch a UP freight on the bridge over the
Kootenai, but all the action was on BNSF/BN/GN rails today. There's a detector
just east of here that sounds off JUST before the train arrives. A better
indication of an approaching train is the, "Cah-junk, Cah-junk" radio button
on/off acknowledgement of a good-report-detector. You can hear those miles away.
Arriving too late to catch the power, I grabbed this meet shot of an EB V train
on Main Two and a WB Q train on Main One.
The next train by, I was ready for. Framing up with the overhead signal
cantilever, I baited my hook and waited. Shortly thereafter, I was rewarded with
a WB H train with a very eclectic motive power mix: Santa Fe/BNSF #714, a GE
C44-9W; BNSF #9826, an EMD SD70MAC in the "Grinstein Green Executive Scheme" and
a BNSF #263, an EMD SD75M in BNSF Orange. Swoosh, Baby!
I didn't think I could POSSIBLY catch the H just 7 miles down US95/2, but I did.
On the ground at Naples, I found my eclectic consist slowly rolling down the
siding. Yet another meet!
Sure enough, an EB empty Oil train holds the main and passes underneath the old
US95 bridge.
Once the oiler is clear, the H train comes through the pass. #9826 is a smoker!
Let's take a closer look at our three, esoteric engines:
With that confounding road construction delay, I figured that was the last I'd
see of that H train. But luck was with me that afternoon and I sailed by as
one of the last cars through -- and there was the H train slowly rolling west!
I had always wanted to get a train crossing the ex-GN Pack River bridge. It's an
afternoon shot and you can take pictures going this direction only (there's a
wider shoulder on the highway bridge going southbound). Sure enough, all the
stars lined up for this scenario.
First, a close-up of the fish mural painted on one bridge pier, then the train
itself framing the bridge and river nicely. New spot! Kick!
After a brief stop in Ponderay, ID for lunch/dinner sandwich, it's time to cap off
the day with a visit to HWY MP 473 on Lake Pend Oreille.
An EB H train startles a feisty seagull, until he takes off for parts unknown.
The merchandise train continues across the lake on Main 1.
An "E" (empty coal) is the next train by, heading EB on Main 2. Boats, boats,
boats! And a Canadian Pacific bringing up the rear.
I was jonesing for a nice, colorful S train to flash across the lake, but all
the Train Gods sent was this very boring B (bare table) train. Oh well. Crop out
those flat cars and hope for a watercraft to come alongside!
It was a great day trainspotting. No trackwork in the area and trains flowed
freely along the funnel and old GN all day long. Almost heaven!
THE END
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