Mission
This website serves as a reference / support area for the railfan who is interested in the workings of the Union Pacific Railroad in Hearne Texas.
Yellow highlighting implies new content on the site. Hearne is the
hub of Union Pacific activity in Central Texas. Seven, yes 7, subdivisions
have endpoints at the Hearne terminal. UP employs directional running on
their north/south lines in Texas. Think of two funnels connected spout to
spout. The joined spouts would be the Hearne terminal. The Ft.
Worth, Ennis and Hearne subs are the upper funnel and the Austin, Navasota,
Giddings and Bryan subs are the lower funnel. Each sub is discussed in
detail below.
Live Railroad Radio
For a LIVE slice of Hearne action, tune into the Internet railroad radio feed
emanating from the Hearne, TX area. The feed includes area BNSF talk but the bulk of the radio traffic is UP.
If you are using Internet Explorer, you should see a media player control panel and the radio feed should automatically start. If this does not happen try the media player application with the following URL:
http://bryanrr.no-ip.info:8080.
CTC
In addition to the live radio, a LIVE look at the
CTC switch and
signal routes are available for the north end of the Navasota
subdivision (very similar to the dispatcher's display). You will need to use Internet Explorer to view it and may
have to alter your browser security settings to allow XML content. XML is
a popular way to access data via the web. The content is not harmful and
there is no risk.
Trains and Video in College Station
A research project by the Texas
Transportation Institute in College Station (http://tti.tamu.edu) monitors train movements along 5
miles of Navasota subdivision track and makes the information available to emergency services and the
public at large. Check out the website
http://railview.tamu.edu,
it is a great companion to the Hearne audio feed. The detector at
milepost 68.1 is just south of the monitored area and can easily be heard here
on the audio feed. The north end of the monitored track segment is CPQ075
Bryan Jct.
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Hearne South Map
Use the following links to obtain maps of the area:
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Odds and Ends on Hearne and the area
Hey, how about a little history on this area?
| Traffic Mixture by Subdivision | |
| Ennis |
Southbound traffic from Dallas, Fort Worth, Pine Bluff, Kansas City, Chicago, and eastern connections. Lots of variety here: intermodals, auto parts, mainfests, grain, and coal |
| Bryan | As of mid March 2004, the Bryan sub is again hosting southbound trains from Hearne to the new CPQ078, (old Bryan Interlocker in downtown Bryan) Bush Jct., for Houston, Galveston, and Beaumont destinations. Coal loads do not operate this route. |
| Giddings |
Mainly southbound traffic to Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, Eagle Pass, all traffic to Mexico (stacks, auto parts), coal trains to San Antonio and Victoria, unit alumina ore train to Lolita, a few rock and grain trains. An odd empty empty grain and empty Victoria coal trains operate north. A local works the subdivision between Hearne and Flatonia. It goes Hearne to Flatonia one day and returns the next (e.g. down to Flatonia on Friday back into Hearne on Sunday). As of early July, coal loads and empties to the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) plant near La Grange (Halsted) are taking a new routing. Work is complete on the new connector (CP FL076) between the Giddings sub (north) and the Smithville sub (east). The connector is supporting both coal loads and empties from the plant east of La Grange and moves them onto the Giddings sub rather than the traditional Smithville sub route and north on the Waco sub. The BNSF is also using the Giddings sub to move their coal trains to and from Halsted. These trains enter and exit the UP system at Caldwell. Consult this page for more information and some pictures. |
| Navasota |
A good mixture of north and south trains (few more southbounders). The sub handles southbound traffic to Houston, Galveston, and Beaumont (not many). Northbound traffic to Fort Worth, North Platte,
and Kansas City. Numerous rock trains operate to points all over southeastern Texas. Northbound empty rock trains take the connection at Valley Jct. to the Austin Sub to head back to the aggregate pits around and south of Austin. Several autorack trains operate to the Houston area (Westfield and Galena Park). Grain trains to Houston, Galveston and Beaumont. Coal trains to Smithers Lake near Houston. |
| Fort Worth |
Mainly northbound traffic to Fort Worth, Kansas City and points north although it is not uncommon to find some southbound traffic (typically coal loads
and maybe a grain load). Empty coal and grain trains operate this route as well as manifests that originate in the Houston area. |
| Austin | Mainly northbound traffic from Laredo, Eagle Pass, and San Antonio. Intermodal, stacks and racks for Chicago and eastern connections, manifests to Fort Worth and north. Expect to see numerous loaded and empty rock trains shuttling from the Austin/San Antonio area aggregate pits to and from their customers. |
| Hearne | Mainly northbound priority traffic headed to Chicago and eastern railroad connections (domain of the auto parts trains, Z's and A's). |
| Trains by Subdivision | |
| Ennis |
SOUTHBOUND
Manifest: MDAEW (Manifest: Dallas to Houston Englewood Yd) MDNMXX (Manifest: Denison Ray Yard to Mexico [Laredo]) - infrequent MFWEW (Manifest: Fort Worth to Englewood Yd Houston) MFWMX (Manifest: Forth Worth to Mexico [Laredo]) MFWSA (Manifest: Forth Worth to San Antonio) MKCEW (Manifest: KansasCity to Houston Englewood Yd) MKCSA (Manifest: Kansas City to San Antonio) MNPEW (Manifest: North Platte, NE to Houston Englewood Yd) MPBBL (Manifest: Pine Bluff,AR to Bloomington) MPBSA (Manifest: Pine Bluff,AR to San Antonio) Autotrain: ADEWF (Autos: Detroit,MI to Westfield [Spring,TX]) AAMWF (Autos: Armourdale [Kansas City] to Westfield [Spring,TX]) AMQMX (Autos: Mesquite,TX [Dallas] to Laredo) APBEG (Autos: Pine Bluff,AR to Eagle Pass) ALBWF (Autos: Long Beach,CA to Westfield [Spring,TX]) ASMVA (Autos: Salem,IL to Laredo) Intermodal: IMNLBR (Intermodal: Marion,AR to Long Beach - Empty intermodal) (Rarely) IMNLB (Intermodal: Marion,AR to Long Beach) IDALB (Intermodal: Dallas to Long Beach) Expedited: ZYCLD (Expedited: Yard Center [Chicago] to Laredo) ZYCMX (Expedited: Yard Center [Chicago] to Laredo - Mexico City) ZYCMXB (Expedited: Yard Center [Chicago] to Laredo - Mexico City) ZDTMX (Expedited: Detroit,MI to Laredo) Coal: CAICL (Coal: Axial [Colorado] to Coleto Creek [Victoria]) CATCL (Coal: Antelope Mine [PRB Wyoming] to Coleto Creek [Victoria]) CCDSA (Coal: Cordero Mine [PRB Wyoming] to City Public Service [San Antonio]) CROSA (Coal: Rojo Caballo [PRB Wyoming] to City Public Service [San Antonio]) CJRHP (Coal: Jacobs Ranch [PRB Wyoming] to Houston Light and Power Smithers Lake [Houston]) CCDHP (Coal: Cordero Mine [PRB Wyoming] to Houston Light and Power Smithers Lake [Houston]) CBRLHG (Coal: ?? to Longhorn,TX [San Antonio] Coal for cement / lime plants in Austin - San Antonio area) CJRHS (Coal: Jacobs Ranch [PRB Wyoming] to LCRA [Halsted / La Grange,TX]) CCDHS (Coal: Cordero Mine [PRB Wyoming] to LCRA [Halsted / La Grange,TX]) CBTHS (Coal: Black Thunder Mine [PRB Wyoming] to LCRA [Halsted / La Grange,TX]) Ore: (Sporadic) OTYGV (Ore: Tyler to Galveston -- Loaded unit sulphur) OGVTY (Ore: Galveston to Tyler -- Empty unit sulphur) OWVBT (Ore: Westvaco,Wy to Beaumont,TX -- Loaded soda ash) Cement: RMDGPC (Rock/Cement: Midlothian,TX to Galena Park,TX [Houston]) Grain: GLxxxx (Grain Load: Somewhere to Somewhere else) GSxxxx (Grain Shuttle: Somewhere to Somewhere else) |
| Bryan |
Rock: (Sampling) RKRBH (Rock: Kerr [Round Rock - GRR] to Benchley) RBHKR (Rock: Benchley to Kerr [Round Rock - GRR]) As of mid March, the Bryan sub is again hosting southbound trains from Hearne to Bryan for Houston destinations. It is unclear if this traffic pattern will continue after the MOW gangs leave the area. Southbound trains from the Ennis sub for Houston, Galveston, and Beaumont destinations MAY take the Bryan sub. Traffic changes day to day. No northbound through traffic on this line. Traffic continues on the Bryan sub although more sporadic than it has been. The sub is being used to store Houston bound trains (MDAEW, MFWEW, MNPEW) for available crews thus keeping Hearne yard fluid. The trains typically are pulled to near Bryan by a yard or dogcatch crew and parked awaiting a road crew. MDAEW works this way frequently. Trains you *might* see on the Bryan sub while traffic continues:
SOUTHBOUND
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| Giddings |
SOUTHBOUND
Manifest: MDNMXX (Manifest: Denison Ray Yard to Mexico [Laredo]) - infrequent MFWSA (Manifest: Forth Worth to San Antonio) MKCSA (Manifest: Kansas City to San Antonio) MPBBL (Manifest: Pine Bluff,AR to Bloomington) MPBSA (Manifest: Pine Bluff,AR to San Antonio) Autotrain: ASGKB (Autos: Seger [Hearne] to Kirby [San Antonio] - AKSGP splits at Seger/Hearne to form two trains) AMQMX (Autos: Mesquite,TX [Dallas] to Laredo) APBEG (Autos: Pine Bluff,AR to Eagle Pass) ASMVA (Autos: Salem,IL to Laredo) Intermodal: IMNLBR (Intermodal: Marion,AR to Long Beach - Empty intermodal) (Rarely) IMNLB (Intermodal: Marion,AR to Long Beach) IDALB (Intermodal: Dallas to Long Beach) Expedited: ZYCLD (Expedited: Yard Center [Chicago] to Laredo) ZYCMX (Expedited: Yard Center [Chicago] to Laredo - Mexico City) ZYCMXB (Expedited: Yard Center [Chicago] to Laredo - Mexico City) ZDTMX (Expedited: Detroit,MI to Laredo) Coal: CAICL (Coal: Axial [Colorado] to Coleto Creek [Victoria]) CATCL (Coal: Antelope Mine [PRB Wyoming] to Coleto Creek [Victoria]) CCDSA (Coal: Cordero Mine [PRB Wyoming] to City Public Service [San Antonio]) CROSA (Coal: Rojo Caballo [PRB Wyoming] to City Public Service [San Antonio]) CJRHS (Coal: Jacobs Ranch [PRB Wyoming] to LCRA [Halsted / La Grange,TX]) CCDHS (Coal: Cordero Mine [PRB Wyoming] to LCRA [Halsted / La Grange,TX]) CBTHS (Coal: Black Thunder Mine [PRB Wyoming] to LCRA [Halsted / La Grange,TX]) Grain: GLxxxx (Grain Load: Somewhere to Somewhere else) GSxxxx (Grain Shuttle: Somewhere to Somewhere else) Ore: OMJLO (Ore: Marjorie [Rockdale] to Lolita NORTHBOUND Manifest: MKVNP (Manifest: Kingsville, TX to North Platte, NE) Quality Manifest: QBLNL (Quality Manifest: Bloomington, TX to North Little Rock, AR) Coal: CCLAI (Coal: to Coleto Creek [Victoria] to Axial [Colorado]) CCLAT (Coal: Coleto Creek [Victoria] return to Antelope Mine [PRB Wyoming]) CHSJR (Coal: LCRA [Halsted / La Grange,TX] to Jacobs Ranch [PRB Wyoming]) CHSCD (Coal: LCRA [Halsted / La Grange,TX] to Cordero Mine [PRB Wyoming]) CHSBT (Coal: LCRA [Halsted / La Grange,TX] to Black Thunder Mine [PRB Wyoming]) Ore: OLOMJ (Ore: Lolita to Marjorie [Rockdale] - processed ore) Grain: GExxxx (Grain Empty: Somewhere to Somewhere else) |
| Navasota |
SOUTHBOUND
Manifest: MDAEW (Manifest: Dallas to Houston Englewood Yd) MFWEW (Manifest: Fort Worth to Englewood Yd Houston) MKCEW (Manifest: KansasCity to Houston Englewood Yd) MNPEW (Manifest: North Platte, NE to Houston Englewood Yd) Autotrain: ADEWF (Autos: Detroit,MI to Westfield [Spring,TX]) AAMWF (Autos: Armourdale [Kansas City] to Westfield [Spring,TX]) ALBWF (Autos: Long Beach,CA to Westfield [Spring,TX]) Coal: CJRHP (Coal: Jacobs Ranch [PRB Wyoming] to Houston Light and Power Smithers Lake [Houston]) CCDHP (Coal: Cordero Mine [PRB Wyoming] to Houston Light and Power Smithers Lake [Houston]) Grain: GLxxxx (Grain Load: Somewhere to Somewhere else) GSxxxx (Grain Shuttle: Somewhere to Somewhere else) Rock: (Sampling - These are loads) RDTSP (Rock: Ditlinger [New Braunfels] to Spring) RKRBR (Rock: Kerr [Round Rock - GRR] to Bryan) RKRNV (Rock: Kerr [Round Rock - GRR] to Navasota) RKRBH (Rock: Kerr [Round Rock - GRR] to Benchley) RHTBR (Rock: Hunter to Bryan) ROGBR (Rock: Ogden,TX to Bryan) ROGJV (Rock: Ogden,TX to Jersey Village [Houston]) RBMMY (Rock: Beckmann [San Antonio] to Melendy [Houston]) Cement: RBUERC (Rock/Cement: Buda,TX [Texas Cement] to Eureka,TX [Houston]) RMDGPC (Rock/Cement: Midlothian,TX to Galena Park,TX [Houston]) Ore: (Sporadic) OTYGV (Ore: Tyler to Galveston -- Loaded unit sulphur) OWVBT (Ore: Westvaco,Wy to Beaumont,TX -- Loaded soda ash) NORTHBOUND Manifest: MHOFW (Manifest: Houston to Fort Worth) MHOKC (Manifest: Houston to Kansas City) MHONP (Manifest: Houston to North Platte,NE) MSPFW (Manifest:: Spring,TX to Fort Worth - old QAGFW) Coal: CHPJR (Coal: Houston Light and Power Smithers Lake [Houston] to Jacobs Ranch [PRB Wyoming]) CHPCD (Coal: Houston Light and Power Smithers Lake [Houston] to Cordero Mine [PRB Wyoming]) Grain: GExxxx (Grain Empty: Somewhere to Somewhere else) GSHOWT (Grain Shuttle: Houston to Wichita, KS) Rock: (Sampling - These are emptys) RBHKR (Rock: Benchley to Kerr [Round Rock - GRR]) RBRHT (Rock: Bryan to Hunter) RBRKR (Rock: Bryan to Kerr [Round Rock - GRR]) RBROG (Rock: Bryan to Ogden,TX) RJVOG (Rock: Jersey Village [Houston] to Ogden,TX) RMYBM (Rock: Melendy to Beckmann [San Antonio]) RNVKR (Rock: Navasota to Kerr [Round Rock - GRR]) RSPDT (Rock: Spring to Ditlinger [New Braunfels] ) Cement: RERBUC (Rock/Cement Empty: Eureka,TX [Houston] to Buda,TX [Texas Cement]) RGPMDC (Rock/Cement Empty: Galena Park,TX [Houston] to Midlothian,TX) Ore: OGVTY (Ore: Galveston to Tyler -- Empty unit sulphur) OBTWV (Ore: Beaumont,TX to Westvaco,Wy -- Empty soda ash) OLOMJ (Ore: Lolita to Marjorie [Rockdale] - processed ore - occasionaly takes this route instead of Giddings sub) |
| Fort Worth |
NORTHBOUND
Manifest: MHOFW (Manifest: Houston to Fort Worth) MHOKC (Manifest: Houston to Kansas City) MHONP (Manifest: Houston to North Platte,NE) MLDAR (Manifest: Laredo to Arlington,TX) MSPFW (Manifest:: Spring,TX to Fort Worth - old QAGFW) MKVNP (Manifest: Kingsville, TX to North Platte, NE) Coal: CCLAI (Coal: Coleto Creek [Victoria] to Axial [Colorado]) CCLAT (Coal: Coleto Creek [Victoria] to Antelope Mine [PRB Wyoming]) CHPJR (Coal: Houston Light and Power Smithers Lake [Houston] to Jacobs Ranch [PRB Wyoming]) CHPCD (Coal: Houston Light and Power Smithers Lake [Houston] to Cordero Mine [PRB Wyoming]) CHSJR (Coal: LCRA [Halsted / La Grange,TX] to Jacobs Ranch [PRB Wyoming]) CHSCD (Coal: LCRA [Halsted / La Grange,TX] to Cordero Mine [PRB Wyoming]) CHSBT (Coal: LCRA [Halsted / La Grange,TX] to Black Thunder Mine [PRB Wyoming]) Cement: RBURKC (Rock/Cement: Buda,TX [Texas Cement] to Roanoke,TX [Ft Worth area]) Ore: (Sporadic) OBTWV (Ore: Beaumont,TX to Westvaco,Wy -- Empty soda ash) Grain: GExxxx (Grain Empty: Somewhere to Somewhere else) |
| Austin |
NORTHBOUND
Manifest: MEYNL (Manifest: San Antonio East Yard to North Little Rock, AR) MLDAR (Manifest: Laredo to Arlington,TX) Autotrain: AEGNL (Autos: Eagle Pass to North Little Rock,AR) ALDAS (Autos: Laredo to East St. Louis,IL [TRRA] ) ALDBH (Autos: Laredo to Bellevue, OH -- was ALDEL) AMXAS (Autos: Laredo to East St. Louis,IL [Alton and Southern]) AMXASB (Autos: Laredo to East St. Louis,IL [Alton and Southern]) Expedited: ZLDYC (Expedited: Laredo to Yard Center [Chicago]) ZMXYC (Expedited: Laredo to Yard Center [Chicago]) Grain: GExxxx (Grain Empty: Somewhere to Somewhere else) Rock: (Sampling - These are loads) RBMMY (Rock: Beckmann [San Antonio] to Melendy [Houston]) RDTSP (Rock: Ditlinger [New Braunfels] to Spring) RHTBR (Rock: Hunter to Bryan) RKRBH (Rock: Kerr [Round Rock - GRR] to Benchley) RKRBR (Rock: Kerr [Round Rock - GRR] to Bryan) RKRNV (Rock: Kerr [Round Rock - GRR] to Navasota) ROGBR (Rock: Ogden,TX to Bryan) ROGJV (Rock: Ogden,TX to Jersey Village [Houston]) Cement: RBUERC (Rock/Cement: Buda,TX [Texas Cement] to Eureka,TX [Houston]) RBURKC (Rock/Cement: Buda,TX [Texas Cement] to Roanoke,TX [Ft Worth area]) SOUTHBOUND Rock: (Sampling - These are emptys) RBHKR (Rock: Benchley to Kerr [Round Rock - GRR]) RBRHT (Rock: Bryan to Hunter) RBRKR (Rock: Bryan to Kerr [Round Rock - GRR]) RBROG (Rock: Bryan to Ogden,TX) RJVOG (Rock: Jersey Village [Houston] to Ogden,TX) RNVKR (Rock: Navasota to Kerr [Round Rock - GRR]) Cement: RERBUC (Rock/Cement: Eureka,TX [Houston] to Buda,TX [Texas Cement]) RRKBUC (Rock/Cement: Roanoke,TX [Ft Worth area] to Buda,TX [Texas Cement]) Coal: CLHBRG (Coal: Longhorn,TX [San Antonio] to mine in Colorado?) |
| Hearne |
NORTHBOUND Manifest: MEYNL (Manifest: San Antonio East Yard to North Little Rock, AR) Quality Manifest: QBLNL (Quality Manifest: Bloomington, TX to North Little Rock, AR) Autotrain: AEGNL (Autos: Eagle Pass to North Little Rock,AR) ALDAS (Autos: Laredo to East St. Louis,IL [TRRA] ) ALDBH (Autos: Laredo to Bellevue, OH -- was ALDEL) AMXAS (Autos: Laredo to East St. Louis,IL [Alton and Southern]) AMXASB (Autos: Laredo to East St. Louis,IL [Alton and Southern]) Expedited: ZLDYC (Expedited: Laredo to Yard Center [Chicago]) ZMXYC (Expedited: Laredo to Yard Center [Chicago]) |
The Hearne terminal bristles with many unit rock trains, both empty and loads. Ever wonder where all the trains go? Ever wonder where they come from and why the area is so busy with rock? This page should begin to answer the questions.
As of August 10, 2004, a UP general order requires trains to call out restricting signal indications as they pass them. Here is the pertinent text from the order:
... Item 3 details the requirement to transmit by radio any signals other
than clear, or signal names governing movement onto a diverging route.
Radio rules apply, although no response is to be expected. This item does not
apply during switching operations. Examples are listed below:
UP4419 East at West Fowler, Diverging Approach, out.
UP6800 West at CP Mitchell, Diverging Clear, out.
UP5321 North at South Wildwood, Approach, out.
UP9700 South, at Signal 812.8, Approach, out.
| Typical Radio Chatter by Subdivision | |
| Ennis |
Trains require a track warrant between Corsicana and Kosse. You will hear trains releasing their warrant as they pass Kosse southbound. The dispatcher will frequently tell the train what the conditions are around Seger / Hearne so they will know what to expect. As the train nears Seger, typically around Calvert, they will call the Hearne yard office for "landing instructions" and status of onboard supplies. Trains stack up at Seger ".. there are two ahead of you at Seger ..." or "... your four times out at Hearne ...". The dispatcher issues instructions to pass signal displaying stop at HL123 and HL120 to move trains up closer to each other as they slowly move toward the Giddings Sub at Hearne yard. |
| Bryan | Trains receive a track warrant before leaving Hearne and will typically read "Yard limits YL117 to MP99.3". The switch at CPQ078 for the Bryan sub is not powered therefore a crewman has to bail off and attend to the switch. Speed on the Bryan sub is 10mph so the going is slow. Trains will call for transportation assistance from a Hearne based limo when they near Bryan CoOp (MP 101). Southbound trains will release their warrant after they clear CPQ078 Bush Jct typically when the conductor returns to the head end from lining behind. The local works Bryan CoOp and the Bryan Industrial Park. |
| Giddings |
Trains will call the dispatcher when they are ready to depart the Hearne
terminal. Yard movements request a signal at HL120. If Mumford is stacked up (frequent occurance) you will hear some talk because the Navasota Sub dispatcher controls Mumford Crossovers. Trains waiting to get onto the Navasota Sub or come off the Navasota Sub can bring Giddings Sub operations to a halt. The addition of LCRA coal empties and loads (both UP and BNSF ones) has increased the amount of radio talk due to more frequent train meets. |
| Navasota |
Expect a good amount of radio chatter here. If a local or rock train is working in Bryan there will be considerable talk between engineer and conductor on the ground. Trains can be held outside of town to lay off the crossings. As reported above, Mumford can get stacked up requiring instructions from the dispatcher to inform the trains on what to expect. Trains call the Hearne yard office between Mumford and Valley Jct to announce arrival, get landing instructions and report on onboard supplies. Tatsie may be as far as a train can get before hours of service. |
| Fort Worth |
Trains may request a limo from Hearne to assist with pick ups and setouts. Trains will call the dispatcher to report when they are ready to depart. |
| Austin |
Trains call the Hearne yard office between Gause and Valley Jct to announce arrival, get landing instructions and report on onboard supplies.
Gause (first siding south of Valley Jct) is used to hold trains back and meet opposing movements. Trains will call the dispatcher to report when they are ready to depart heading toward the Hearne Sub. Trains heading for the Hearne Sub will call the Giddings Sub dispatcher and request a signal to cross the Giddings Sub at HL120 (Hearne Interlocker). |
| Hearne | Trains will get a track warrant for movement between Q077 (Franklin, TX - 10 miles north of Hearne) and West Jct (Palestine). Hearne to Franklin is CTC, ABS from Franklin to West Jct. |
| Crew Change Locations | |
| Seger | First siding north of Hearne (3 miles) on the Ennis Sub. Used by southbound trains into Hearne that are bound for any Sub. It is common for trains to stack up at Seger. The dispatcher often tells the trains what to expect at Seger when they release their track warrant up the line at Kosse. |
| Austin Junction | The connector track between the Ennis Sub and the Austin Sub for mainly southbound moves onto the Austin Sub. Fewer trains take this connector than in the past. If the Giddings sub between Hearne and Mumford is stacked up, trains bound for the Giddings sub may get routed through Austin Jct and down to Valley Jct "3 rail". 3 rail is the connector on the east side of Valley Jct and provides a route to the Navasota sub southbound. |
| Back Door | Refers to the back door of the yard office that is located in the sharp curve on the Giddings Sub in Hearne yard. Prefered location for southbound trains on Ennis Sub heading for Navasota or Giddings Subs. May also hear "New Main - Back door" which refers to the train arriving on what is know as the "New Main" (nearest to State Highway 6) and pulling up to the yard office back door. Nearly all through trains arrive on the new main because it is the best quality through track and bypasses some of the yard operations, especially on the south end. |
| Cemetary Crossing | Refers to the far west end of Hearne on the Giddings Sub (south Hearne is the Bryan Sub). It is used when there are other southbound trains close by (recrewing two or more at the same time) and they are trying to squeeze two into the Hearne yard area. Trains leave for the Navasota or Giddings Subs. |
| Tatsie | First siding south of Valley Junction on the Navasota Sub. Trains frequently die or get staged here, both north and south. |
| Q100 | Refers to Control Point Q100. Navasota Sub just short of the crossing with the Austin Sub at Valley Junction (sometimes train will stop with lead loco under the US79 overpass). Used by northbound trains on the Navasota Sub headed for Austin sub or Ft Worth Sub |
| Cameron Highway | Far north end of the yard at Valley Junction on the Ft Worth Sub. Used by northbounders coming from the Navasota and Austin Subs. The name refers to FM485 that runs between Hearne and Cameron and crosses the Ft Worth sub at this spot. |
| Gin Spur | Austin Sub just south of the crossing of the Navasota Sub at Valley Junction (FM1644 grade crossing). Used by northbounders on the Austin Sub. |
| Little Brazos | Refers to the Little Brazos River. The south edge of the Hearne city limits alongside the Austin Sub. Used by northbound trains headed for the Hearne Sub |
| Tony's Crossing | Between Hearne and Valley Junction (just north of Valley Jct - gravel road grade crossing). Used by southbound trains coming off the Ennis Sub headed for the Austin Sub |
| Wayside Equipment Defect Detectors Ability to hear these is somewhat governed by atmospheric conditions (radio propagation) and changes with the seasons of the year. Don't expect to routinely hear all of these. The list is provided to help identifiy a location with a detector transmission. | ||
| Subdivision | Milepost | Location |
| Ennis | 127.9 | Calvert |
| Bryan | 102.6 | North Bryan |
| 112.3 | Between Bryan and Hearne | |
| Giddings | 5.2 | Between Hearne and Tatsie |
| 15.3 | Between Mumford and Varisco | |
| 24.2 | Cooks Point | |
| 28.1 | Between Cooks Point and Caldwell | |
| Navasota | 68.1 | Wellborn |
| 85.4 | West Bryan | |
| 94.5 | Between Mumford and Tatsie | |
| Fort Worth | 107.8 | North of Valley Jct |
| Austin | 103.0 | South of Gause |
| Hearne | 87.7 | North Hearne |
New Curve at the Hearne yard office
UP has acquired land and is in the process of building a new mainline curve near the Hearne yard office. Currently trains arrive off the Ennis Sub at CP HL120 (Ennis Sub / Hearne Sub interlocker) and enter either the New Main or the Houston Main. Consult this page for a diagram of Hearne yard. MP 1.0 to 1.4 on the New Main has a permanent 10mph speed restriction due to mainline curvature at the yard office. The new construction will broaden the curve and likely raise the speed. Some pictures of the construction here. The curve is in operation as of June 20, 2005. New Hearne yard pictures here.
New switch/crossover at Tatsie
New signals have been installed on both lines (subs) at Tatsie and new switches are on the way. Some images here. It would appear that a crossover for southbound trains to move from the Giddings sub onto the Navasota sub just north of Tatsie is the plan. This movement would avoid the common delay point at CPQ 993. Trains often sit on the Giddings sub waiting on Navasota sub traffic. The stopped trains delay trains from making a Giddings sub to Giddings sub movement at Mumford (CPQ 992).
In very late January 2005 MOW forces completed a new crossover at Tatsie.
The crossover moves traffic
departing Hearne on the
Giddings sub to the Navasota sub prior to reaching Mumford. The normal
position for both crossover switches allows trains to move directly onto
the Navasota sub at Tatsie instead of taking the crossovers at Mumford to
do the same job.
It is somewhat ironic. The new track arrangement has essentially
reestablished the old SP routing from Hearne to Mumford and replaced the
interlocker at Tatsie with a crossover. The switches are power and CTC is
online. Hopefully we can figure out the new commands and update the CTC
page in the coming weeks.
I am including a link to a gif image to better illustrate the trackage
upgrade at Tatsie:
http://leonard.tamu.edu/trains/NewTatsie.gif
Dallas Intermodal Terminal (DIT):
The new Dallas Intermodal Terminal at Hutchins, TX (just south of Dallas on the Ennis Sub) is now in operation. Occasionally, a DI intermodal train works through Hearne. I would love to see more of this business work south out of DIT (and routed east from El Paso via the Sunset Route) - it reminds me of the 'old days' of the hot SP trains such as the Blue Streaks. In SP days, trailers originating at Dallas and destined to ride the Memphis Blue Streak would be sprinted to San Antonio. The DASAQ train was a common sight working through Hearne in the early morning.
UP will routinely hold trains outside of Bryan/College Station to keep the F&B Road grade crossing clear in Bryan siding. Typical locations are MP82 north of Bryan and MP70 on the south edge of College Station.
There is frequent MOW activity around Bryan during weekdays. Expect significant dispatcher to MOW talk on weekdays, especially in the mornings.
The track rearrangement at CPQ078 Bush Jct. has impacted train operations a bit in Bryan. When a train comes off the Bryan sub at Bush Jct., the conductor has to line a hand throw switch for the train to move from the Bryan sub to the Navasota sub Main 2. The conductor waits as the train slowly pulls through the connection and lines behind. If a crew van/limo was dispatched from Hearne, he gets a ride otherwise he walks the two miles (approx) from CPQ078 to the head end. He can not walk alongside the train so the trip is longer by foot. After reboarding, the southbound train contacts the dispatcher to get a signal at CPQ075 Villa Maria (old Bryan Jct) and releases his Bryan sub track warrant (YL117 to MP 99.3).
It appears that Navasota sub Main 1 is the preferred routing for both north and south trains but the short length of "two main tracks" is used to pass trains.
Bryan / College Station Train Monitor
A research project by the Texas Transportation Institute in College Station monitors train movements along 5 miles of track and makes the information available to emergency services and the public at large. Check out the website http://railview.tamu.edu, it is a great companion to the Navasota sub audio feed. The detector at milepost 68.1 is just south of the monitored area and can easily be heard here on the audio feed. The north end of the monitored track segment is CPQ075 Bryan Jct.
Villa Maria (CPQ075 Bryan Jct) Construction
TxDOT has let a project to build an
underpass to remove the Villa Maria grade crossing. Villa Maria is at the very
north end of Bryan siding (CPQ_075) and has been a long standing problem with
both the railroad and the City of Bryan. UP may have another Mumford-style
double crossover planned for this location based on the right of way clearing
that has been done. Consult this
outing summary for more information.
There is some new UP signal department construction work on the Navasota sub between Bryan and Millican. New signal construction is underway in several locations. New signals are up (but not operational) at CPQ_073 - South Bryan. The signal for northbound movements, a double target, was recently taken down and I suspect it was moved to downtown Bryan's Bush Jct, CPQ_078. A minor derailment took out the new CPQ_078 signal and it may well be that the signal dept took down the CPQ_073 double target absolute to quickly replace the damaged signal at CPQ_078. They were identical in design. In mid-year 2003, (or more) the signal dept installed an intermediate signal around MP68 (just north of Wellborn) but never activated it. That this signal has been removed. Apparently the current thinking is to install some intermediates between Bryan and Millican at approximate 2 mile spacing and the MP68 location was not consistent with the overall corridor design.
The new signals became operational in early 2005 and are approach lit. Signals do not come on until a train is occupying the block on either side of the signal. The operation mode is good for the signal department by keeping the lights out for the bulk of the time but bad for railfans. They provide little advance warning of an approaching train.
New Sites:
South Bryan is CPQ_073 and is located at MP73.5. It is the south switch for Bryan siding. New signal but not a new location.
Going south from CPQ_073, the first intermediate is at FM2818, MP71.1. This signal is not new but its location was moved approximately a half mile further south (to MP71) when the SP upgraded the line back in the middle to late 80s.
Brand new construction is seen at the location know by the crews as Tigermart, or just south of Rock Prairie and Wellborn Rd. This should translate to about MP 69.6. Appears to be an intermediate.
New construction (intermediate) seen right in the sweeping curve in Wellborn proper (across from the post office). Should be around MP66.9.
New construction (intermediate) seen at approximately MP64.5.
The current (and it has been there as long as I remember, since the middle 80s at least) north approach signal for Millican is at MP62.7.
North Millican is CPQ_060 and is closer to MP60.5.
George H.W. Bush Library and Museum Railroad Exhibit:
The Bush Library and Museum is the home of the
Trains: Tracks of the Iron Horse
railroad exhibit. As part of the festivities, Union Pacific painted a new
SD70ACE locomotive in a unique scheme celebrating the Bush Library and exhibit.
The passenger excursion ran from College Station to Dallas and return on the
weekend of November 19-20, 2005.
| Radio Frequencies | ||
| Subdivision | Code | Frequency |
| Ennis | 160.320 Mhz | |
| Bryan | 160.830 Mhz | |
| Giddings | 160.320 Mhz | |
| Navasota | 160.830 Mhz | |
| Fort Worth | 160.830 Mhz | |
| Austin | 160.830 Mhz | |
| Hearne | 160.830 Mhz | |
Heare - Valley Jct - Tatsie triangle
Tatsie siding area
Mumford area
More pictures from the Brazos valley:
Pictures from the Hearne area and elsewhere located on my website
A collection of images
and trip reports (many noted above but this is the whole list)
Foreign power in the area
NOTE: These sites are maintained by other web citizens. They may not be available, current, correct, etc. They are here strictly for convenience.
CSX Roster 0001 - 5999
CSX Roster 6000 - 9999
BNSF Motive Power Roster
| Norfolk Southern Motive Power Roster |
| Canadian National (includes GT, GTW & DW&P) Motive Power Roster |
| Union Pacific Motive Power Roster |
| Other Rosters |
