Thursday, August 18, 2005: Union Pacific's new Heritage MoPac locomotive Number 1982 made a trip through eastern Arkansas on the Cotton Belt to Pine Bluff, then eventually to Louisiana. I caught it at Wabbeseka and Altheimer, Arkansas, running exactly as advertised the day before. It was the first time (I believe) that the new unit was used on a regular freight, the ZYCHOB out of Chicago. It was HOT, 100 degrees with heat index of 110. The shade trees were a necessity.




Speeding through Wabbeseka, Arkansas at 12:47 p.m.


These photos were completely unenhanced - straight out of the camera, except for some cropping off the bottom of the photo. I was on the sunlit side at Wabbeseka.


It finally came through Altheimer, Arkansas at 1:27 p.m. It had stopped and waited for a northbound train just outside of Altheimer  (photo of the other train later on this page). I used my spot metering system to get the shadowed side lighter. The track curves toward me here.


Exiting Altheimer. It got to Pine Bluff about 1:45 p.m.


Here's the train across a field from US Highway 79 just south of Altheimer.


Another view of same area.


While waiting for UP 1982, this northbound train went by Altheimer at 1:22 p.m. August 18. It had CSX 8028 in the lead and bright red HCLX 6229.


HLCX 6229.




The Pine Bluff, Arkansas Union Station, now a museum, looking north/east.  The 1982 didn't get out of the yard through Pine Bluff until after 3 and I didn't stay long enough to see it pass the station, but I did get one train (below).  I did not chase the 1982 any further than Pine Bluff.


CEFX 3117 passes the station at 2:03 p.m.