Wow that is a lot of locomotive on some pretty funky looking track.
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I can't believe the track conditions here.
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Congrats on the top of 24, David!
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That small rail not fit for these big locos.
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It is Union Pacific trackage after all
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Believe it or not, D&R has made significant strides in last few years re: track conditions. This shot would have been impossible 3-4 years ago, as there were spots between MP1 and wye at UP that were much worse than track you see in photo. With business increasing, D&R hopes to continue track work toward North Dardanelle so that big power (which is currently allowed only as far south as lumber mill siding a few hundred feet beyond 4416) can go all the way to the bottom of the grade. Even a 60-car train is tough to start when the whole thing is hanging down the hill as shown in the photo. Originally tried using just the BNSF units, but the grade won, and now two D&R units shove. Not sure if all the D&R units will m.u., so it technically may be a triple-header on some runs.
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Those might be D&R guys...
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