Here are some photos taken May 25, 2003 at Union Station in Little Rock along with a photo on May 24, 2003 of a NS unit with their new paint scheme taken by Robin Thomas and a work caboose on a train Mayi 25 taken by Brian Smith. Brian also has a few more photos below, including the UP E-9's in the yards at North Little Rock. Also, Brian photographed DRGW 5354, which had been talked about on Railspot  recently. To see more of Brian Smith's photos, go to:
http://www.briansrails.homestead.com/

For more of my photos, mostly current, go to:
http://www.trainweather.com/sunday.html

My email: ken@trainweather.com




SP3999, 923 a.m. May 25, 2003 passing Union Station.


SP7839 was the trailing unit. RIGHT-UP4999, running light, 944 a.m.


LEFT-UP4607, 1004 a.m. RIGHT-UP9268, 1017 a.m.




This stray cat walked up to us. It had a collar on, but no tags. When a train passed and we went to photograph the train, the cat was 'missing,' or so we thought. When Robin Thomas, lower right, got in his car (he had left the door open), the cat was sleeping under his rear window, and as you can tell, the cat was out of it. Later the kitty got out and drank some water and Robin picked him up. It was a friendly cat. I had to leave, and don't know if Robin took the cat home or not - he said he might.


Robin Thomas took this photo at Union Station May 24, 2003. It had two NS units, the first one, No. 9749, had the new NS paint scheme, according to Robin. The train was the QLWNL.


Rio Grande5354 in the UP yard in North Little Rock, May 24, 2003. This is DRGW SD40T-2 5354 and is idling in the yard. (Photo by Brian Smith)


DGRW5377, SD40T-2, also taken the the UP yards in North Little Rock May 24. (Photo by Brian Smith)


A caboose on a manifest train! It was seen passing Union Station in Little Rock, Sunday May 25, 2003. Although not occupied, seeing a caboose on a freight today is rare. According to Elvin Klepzig, Doniphan Branch Railway, this former MP caboose shot by Brain Smith was never in MOW service on the MP. They were all mainline cabooses and were the last ones built for the MP and when acquired by the UP were the newest ones the UP had. That color is UPs MOW color applied by UP after they came onto the UP system. At that time, many of those cabooses were put into various services as MOW or rail train cars. I couldn't see the number of the caboose but since Brian called it a MP caboose I assume it still carries the MP number. Haven't figured out why the UP only renumbered some and not all of these cabooses but they didn't. Just wanted to pass along some details that you may or may not have. (Brian Smith photo)


LEFT-MoPac Caboose 13004 sits on a siding at Shelburn, Louisiana March 1, 2003. This is on the Delta Southern ex-MoPac line from Talullah, Louisiana to McGehee, Arkansas. Shelburn is south of Lake Providence. RIGHT-MoPac Caboose 13631 sits on a spur at Arkadelphia, Arkansas in April 2003. (Brian Smith photos). Added via email by Elvin Klepzig, Doniphan Branch Railway: It's a shame that Shelburne LA caboose is like that. That is a fairly rare caboose. The other caboose is due to be cleaned up once the group in Arkadelphia gets it at the depot.




UP's famous E9's No. 949 and 951 and the B-unit sit in the North Little Rock yard May, 2003. (Brian Smith photos)