Photo By: Kevin Morgan

The Powder River Basin has been expanding at a nearly exponential rate over the last twenty years. Not long ago, there were two main tracks at this location. It didn't take long for a third main track to be put in to accommodate traffic. No sooner had the third track been put it, that a fourth main track was laid down! This roughly 25-mile stretch of four main tracks is the longest such stretch of non-passenger track in the country. In this shot, a UP coal empty proceeds west in the distance on Main Two, a BNSF coal load heads east on Main Four, and a clear signal on Main Three indicates another westbound is not far away.
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User Comments (4)

Posted By Matt On Wednesday, October 15, 2008 At 1:07:44 PM (PT)

Anybody that does come visit the PR Sub be sure to stop by the Oak Tree Inn, and the Bill store, across the street from the motel. it was just finished and we moved over to that motel in February of 08 it's very nice, and the diner isn't bad food, a little overpriced, but where else are we going to go.


Posted By Matt On Wednesday, October 15, 2008 At 1:05:26 PM (PT)

4 Main tracks and they still can't get us anywhere in under 12 hours.


Posted By Brent A. Harrison On Sunday, August 17, 2008 At 8:07:12 PM (PT)

An amazing pic Kevin showing the sheer vastness of the terrain. I will be going for the first time to the PRB this coming year. Thx.


Posted By Steve Walden On Friday, August 15, 2008 At 10:25:36 AM (PT)

It's hard to imagine that rails can be laid down that quickly and harder still to realize that in 20 years, they could pull up one, two or even three mains because of an unanticipated change in market conditions. Rails are the best way to go, however, especially when you consider the amount of freight moving through such wild and open country. Efficiency, small footprint, and a few support stops are just a few features when you compare rail to highway.  
 
Property rights and such aside, if they can lay this much manicured main here, it makes you wonder what they can do for passenger service from Casper or Cheyenne to Raton or Santa Fe.

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Monday, August 11, 2008 at 8:07:49 AM
image date



Location Information
City or County and State
Bill, WY

Subdivision
Orin (BNSF)

Milepost or Control Point
MP 79




Train Information
Railroad
BNSF
Model
ES44AC
Unit Number
BNSF 6006



Photo Information
Camera Make/Model
Canon / Canon EOS 20D
ISO
100
Flash
Did Not Fire

Focal Length
300 mm
Shutter
1/250 seconds
Aperture
f/8


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