PASSING TRAINS PT13

Train GM407, an east-bound unit grain train, rolls into Hillsdale Yard.

On the head-end are hoppers from smaller midwestern railroads, including the two Iowa Interstate Railroad cars seen here, as well as the yellow Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern cars behind them.

Virtually any grain movement in America will include a string of BNSF hoppers; the BNSF being one the top grain haulers in the world!

Behind the BNSF cars (and also in front of them) are AP/APW hoppers.

One of the interesting cars is the first one. While it's still in it's as-delivered lettering scheme for original owner C&NW, the paint has faded from the original dark green to this blue-ish color! Many other ex-C&NW hoppers are still in dark green , but with new reporting marks as surplus hoppers have been sold off by new (as of 1996) owner Union Pacific.

Members of the yard crew inspect the train as it rolls through. Note the newer AP&W hopper has 'CHTT' reporting marks; the next hopper has 'AP' reporting marks (not seen).

The tail end of the train is all AP hoppers. GM407 runs between Chicago and Baltimore; the return train is GM408, usually all empties, but occasionally with several loaded reefers of imported fruit.