Page 16 - September October 2016

RAILROADS
There are only two players in the railroad game here: namely UP and BNSF. A third player, the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern (D. & M.E.) was hoping to split up the cartel but has yet to get Governmental approval.
UP
Big power, big trains, big company!
This was originally C & NW territory, but became UP in 1995, upon the merger/takeover of the C & NW. Virtually all of the Coal Line is owned by the BNSF, with UP tracks beginning at Shawnee Jct near Orin, but it is operated jointly with the UP. Coal tonnage hauled out by the UP is approximately the same as that of the BNSF. Nearly all UP trains depart and arrive the PRB via the south end at Shawnee Jct. and can go either east or west at this point, but most go south-east via Northport Nebraska to the transcontinental main at O’Fallons and on to North Platte NE or down to KC. UP does not exit the PRB at the north end (Donkey Creek Jct.) unless in serious circumstances e.g., line closures or accidents. Trains per day are approximately 100.
Trains are all coal both full and empty. There are no other types of train through the PRB. Servicing of locomotives and crew changes are made at the UP yard at Bill, WY.
BNSF
This was originally BN territory, but became BNSF upon the merger with the ATSF on 21st December 1996. As with the UP, all trains are coal, both full and empty. BNSF primarily exits the Coal Line at the north end at Donkey Creek Jct. Unit coal trains can go either west to L.A./ Seattle/ Roberts Bank (Canada) via Sheridan WY, or the majority go east via Newcastle, Crawford and Alliance Nebraska to Chicago for onward transfer to CSX/NS. However BNSF also exits some trains via the south end at Orin, then via Guernsey to Northport NE. Fuel and maintenance facilities are located at Rozet, Guernsey and Alliance NE. Alliance is located in the Crawford Hill area of Nebraska which is also good for train watching.
Access
From the South, (Douglas): Wyoming Highway 59 is the only main road through the PRB. There are many side turnings off Hwy 59 to reach the tracks. Side roads are not well sign posted and you can pass them very easily.
From the North (Gillette):
Option 1 is to take Wyoming 51 (do not take Interstate 90) which parallels the BNSF mainline to Donkey Creek Jct.. Drive on past Rozet yard and turn right on to Bishop Road. This road will reconnect with PRB rails at Belle Ayr and Caballo Mines, a distance of about 20 Miles. Option 2 Depart Gillette on WY 59 South and turn left on Bishop Road. (The same Bishop Road as above and will reconnect with PRB rails at Caballoo mine).
We suggest obtaining a copy of the Wyoming Delorme Atlas and Gazetteer for detailed road access and information. Also the Mike Walker railroad Atlas for Mountain Plains for additional railroad information.
Accommodation/Food/Gas
Douglas WY.
Super 8, Motel 6, Best Western other motels are all available here. Food and gas are plentiful and the accommodation is reasonable at around $50-$80.
Bill WY.
The only accommodation in Bill is the Oak Tree Inn. This fairly modern motel was primarily created for UP railroad employees. As this is railroad oriented the accommodation is good, but basic. Bedrooms have very efficient blackout arrangements for railroad staff who need to sleep during daylight. The rooms are expensive for what is on offer ($100 + tax), but it is this, or a 90 mile drive to Gillette or a 35 mile drive to Douglas. UP crews come and go all night. There is a diner on site, called Penny's Diner, which is OK for cooked breakfast and burgers. This is not haut cuisine territory but is an excellent example of a Western diner.
Gillette WY.
All the big chain motels are located here, as there is more competition, and Gillette is on the I- 90 Interstate. The rates and facilities are plentiful and reasonably priced, as are the eating facilities/options. Most cluster near the Interstate junction of course.
Gas
As of this writing, there are no gas stations on route 59 in the PRB. We suggest gassing up in either Douglas or Gillette, depending upon from which direction you are going into the PRB.
Summing Up:
Good; this is heavy duty coal hauling territory. There is the possibility of over 200 + train movements in any 24 hour period. Motels are plentiful in both Douglas and Gillette.
Moderate: Only two railroads serve the PRB and make for boring livery interest. BNSF is the more colourful of the two, as they use all the different heritage liveries that they can find and. BNSF does use the occasional lease unit to vary the corporate identity. It seems that UP is trying to kill off SP and remaining CNW patched locomotives by wearing them out and they can be in pretty bad shape and colour.
Not so moderate: There is only one motel in the PRB at Bill, (booking is essential) and you will probably not get any form of discount; (previous experience applies).
Also, because of heavy wear and tear, rail maintenance is almost continuous and may involve some track closures at any time.
Bad ?
There are no serious natural features in this area to offset the bleakness/stark beauty of the Thunder Basin National Grasslands, (but some of us like this scenery). The Wyoming state tree is a telegraph pole! Winter can be seriously bad for your camera batteries and fingers, and summer can produce sunburn/sunstroke very easily. Heat haze will also distort your photographs giving both good and bad effects. Beware also of very fine coal dust, and toxic fumes; mainly from very big mining explosions. Coal dust from trains is not too bad because the coal is sprayed with water when being loaded.
Awful: From our point of view, there is nothing awful, if you love coal action. But some people might find it boring after a while.
Suggested Reading/Purchases.
The Delorme Wyoming Atlas and Gazetteer (current edition)
SPV Mountain Plains Railroad Atlas by Mike Walker (2000) The
Powder River Basin Guide by Ernest H Robl (2nd edn, 2000)
The Altamont Press Railfan Timetable # 4, Mountain Plains Region (2001),
Or, Central West Timetable # 1
(2011) A US Sat-Nav
Epilogue
We have visited this area on several occasions and each time we have discovered new vistas and locations. We have seen this area expand from two tracks to four tracks over Logan Hill and beyond. New signal gantries have gone up, wooden bridges have come down, (replaced by concrete). C30-6s and SD40-2s have given way to Tier 4 GEVOs and SD70ACes. Things may change again over the next ten years as the climate change proponents alter the world’s use of fossil fuels; thus coal traffic may well decline. The PRB still has sufficient coal reserves for the next twenty-five years, but production at several of the smaller mines is already diminishing; so visit soon! There are quite a few non- rail related attractions in the Denver to Black Hills area, such as Devils Tower and Mount Rushmore. The Black Hills Central is a popular tourist line which operates a mallet tank. These are further out from the PRB, but you may need to add them to keep the distaff side happy.
Should you need more information on the PRB, please do not hesitate to contact either of us. We will be only too pleased to share and to give you more detailed info and advice if you need it. Our contact details are in the Roundhouse Directory. (Tom is Member Aid Officer).
Good luck and we hope to see you out there some time.
16 ROUNDHOUSE October 2016