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Posted by
Dave
on Sat Aug 4 22:24:46 2012
edf40wrjww2msgDetail:detailStr fiogf49gjkf0d A couple of months ago I posted my chatting on line with a photographer for the Union Pacific and the Fort Worth & Western. He has unfettered access to the railroads and their equipment and yards, and offered to let me join him on his next assignment in town. That was yesterday, one assignment in Hodge Yard and a second to take pictures of two particular Fort Worth & Western RR locos on a siding a few miles away. When we arrived at the first assignment he handed me a yellow safety vest and ID and into the yard we went.
Back in the day Hodge Station in North Ft. Worth was a stop on the St Louis Southwestern (SSW), commonly known as the Cotton Belt. It is now known as Hodge yard, currently used by the FWWR as its main yard.
Like many short lines, money is tight and there's no sense throwing away perfectly usable albeit run out rolling stock. The FWWR uses several old box cars as storage sheds:
We began with some shots of engines being serviced by the hostler. The yard is quiet on weekend, with only a few switch jobs taking place. GP50 2008 and SD40-2 2015 (Ex-NRE 5426 < CPR 5426 < GSCX 2004 < UP 4175 < nee MP 3175) were being lubed and fueled for their next job:
Working the yard today is a four-engine lashup: GP38-3 2007 (Ex-Point Comfort & Northern < GATX < nee B&O GP40 3726), 2GS14B 2014 (rebuilt from FWWR GP7 2785), GP38-3 2001 (Ex-Omnitrax 2006 < LHRR 2006 < nee D&RGW GP35 3050), and GP38-2 (Ex-Omnitrax 2002 < LHRR 2007 < nee D&RGW GP35 3035):
While waiting for the yard engines to do their stuff, my new friend shot his assignment while I wandered about the yard:
Some of the track has seen better days:
This coil train will be sent to a steel processing plant about 5 miles from the yard:
On to Part 2!
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