BNSF 4981 cab ride detour over IMRL trackage 1999 

The way it should be!

While I have gotten used to PTC, all of these animated things have unfortunately taken the skill away from so many engineers. Once upon a time you could run freight trains without all the restrictions placed on the industry!

What's means pct?

@@gestmerinoPositive Train Control. Basically will not let you run a red signal.

@@Grainexpress thanks like ATS

So sorry you lost your father at such a young age. Seems he led his life the best way he could after his Nam experience and as a very good family provider. May he rest in peace.

First of all, you have my condolences for your father’s passing, especially for not being able to see his retirement. 😞 I know that the railroad allows us to make a good living, but it is definitely stressful on family life. Before working for IMRL, I worked for the old CNW until UP took us over. It didn’t take long for me to know that I couldn’t stay with the UP for the many things you mentioned that fall under not having a life. Bless your mother for keeping the house together and being loyal to your father since that’s hard for many women. I’m blessed to still be working for the railroad in passenger service with Amtrak, but while I miss running freight trains at times, I couldn’t go back to that life at all.

@@warbonds you worked proviso eastward correct? You look awfully familiar to me....

I wish CEO's would realize that if they only took care of their employees, profits would indeed soar!

Thank you for you interest in the video! Yes it was definitely a cool time with lots of variety in motive power and an atmosphere where we were left alone to work as professionals. The pay at IMRL sucked but we had fun. ☺

@@warbonds Yeah I imagine for the amount of fun and freedom you had, it must have been worth whatever the paycheck wasn't providing. What was the stop on the bridge for?

Amen to that brother! And thank you for your interest in the video. ☺

Those were definitely fun times! We could railroad and weren’t micromanaged!

That's basically what trucking has become. I got my CDL in 98. It was the wild west back then.

Thank you very much for the kind words! I hope to be able to upload more things in the near future. ☺

@@warbonds looks like the job used to be enjoyable. Just some normal guys out on the road. Now it looks like a heavily micromanaged job overburdened with useless policies born out of a cubicle by someone who has never set foot in a yard. Shame.

Thank you very much for the very kind words! I’m truly glad you enjoyed it! 😊

Thank you very much for the kind words and your interest! ☺

by the road number it’s a -9 DC power

You have a great deal of knowledge, but this is a C44-9W. Keep learning and never stop. ☺

@@warbondsaren’t they kinda the same think other than the Dash 9 having a air conditioner on the left side.

@@minnesotarailfan11 i’m assuming your question refers to the difference between an AC 4400 and a C 44-9 W? The C 44-9 W is a DC version of the AC 4400 which is obviously an AC traction locomotive. Yes, on the C 44-9, that is an air conditioner unit on the right side, but on the AC 4400, that section is actually called an inverter cabinet which converts the current to the useable form to the traction motors. The essential difference between DC and AC is that you can burn up a DC traction motor, especially in territories, where you’re going up a long, steep hill, and the traction motors work too hard and overheat. However, AC traction motors can go all day long. This is why they have become more popular because the maintenance is much easier on them. I hope this answers the question correctly.

@@warbonds I completely forgot the dash 9 was DC powered

The railroad has definitely changed a lot over the years, but I still enjoy getting to do what I do! ☺

Here’s a guy who needs his head examined.

They were fun engines to run! I ran a number of them when I worked for CNW since we were the first railroad to take delivery of them back in 1993. However, I have run hundreds of them from different railroads over the years, and once you get into the cab, they all look the same. I’ve had specially painted engines many times, but after awhile, you forget what you’re in. ☺

There rough riders been getting a lot of them lately.

The biggest thing in qualifying is knowing the territory over which you are assigned. That includes knowing where the hills are, where the sidings and control points are located, knowing where signals are located, etc. All of these things give you the ability to run trains safely without getting into trouble. Each train type runs differently between heavy loaded coal trains, empty coal trains, double stack trains, piggyback trains, vehicle trains, mixed freights, etc. However, to answer your original question, locomotives are pretty much the same in the way they operate, but it what you out behind a locomotive consist that makes the difference.

I remember hearing that story at a slide show in Burlington a few years later! 😂

This is the Milwaukee Road line from Chicago to KC. The train would have gotten on the Milwaukee at Ottumwa. This will be the main line on the CP to the KCS connection in KC.

I think Bell answered your question way better than I could since he worked on that property for decades! I was privileged to have worked with him both on IMRL and Amtrak!

I watched the Rock Island line (Muscatine to KC, “Golden State”) just to the north, removed during 1970s.

I worked for I&M RailLink at that time. Many of our locomotives weren’t very reliable. Also, Dash 9s were pretty new to the BNSF at that time, so to get one was rare. Yes the Macs were great pullers and reliable. I ran many of them because of coal train interchanges we got from BNSF. The trailing SD45-2 was exciting because I actually got to run something that I admired when I was a teenager, so my comments were more nostalgic.

@@warbonds that’s cool man I enjoyed watching your videos bro thanks for posting.

It’s quite easy because when you run the same territory over and over, the locations on the track warrants are all familiar locations. We copy so many over time that we can practically do it in our sleep. ☺

@@warbonds i have a scanner that i can hear the bnsf yard and dispatcher, i was listening to the dispatcher , all i was thinking was holly cow slow down ,

@@warbonds just tell the dispatcher ya i understand 😂

@@myfavorites1016 pretty much! 😁

You did NOT post any videos ..... disappointed

John, you did NOT get to blow horns or move throttles...... disappointed

If you have not already seen, I did upload a video yesterday, and I will be uploading another one tomorrow. Unfortunately, I got called to work before I could finish uploading, but I’m sure you will be pleased to see plenty of Burlington Northern stuff! 😊