[UT][T-18] Chasing Unit Sand Trains Through Northeastern Pa.

Unit sand trains are becoming more and more common as the natural gas industry flourishes..

[@davidbarnett9312]

Thanks for the voice-overs. Even though the BNSF runs right by the farm, I have to say the livery of NS appeals to me more than that cream colored BNSF livery. Often I see NS engines trailing or leading BNSF trains here. Over the years I've seen NS, KCS de Mexico, Ferromex, UP, CSX, SP, Citirail, CN, CP, and various lease engines. Back in the long ago, I would see NW, Southern, and L&N engines at the Hardy Street yard where we reported in and then picked up our engines and caboose for the trip to pick up our train at Inglewood Yard. Because of a derailment, I had the pleasure of being in a siding while a Rock Island Line freight rerouted on our H&TC branch of the SP passed on its way north. It had the old A & B units.

[@Trains21]

As always, you dazzle us with your fond memories.. I wish they were mine.. Keep em' coming David.. BTW, you're welcome for the voice-overs.

[@joesaurina1402]

Your commentary and videos are first class, well done, cheers.

[@Trains21]

Thanks much, Joe.

[@iusetano]

Great coverage of an industry. Excellent video AC.

[@Trains21]

Thanks, Hans..

[@desertfox2020]

Those big GEs sound absolutely harrowing both cresting the hill and later pulling into the yard... Your documentary style videos are excellent. Based upon your recent video I started doing some railfanning in Cove as well. What a great spot!

[@Trains21]

Cool! Cove is a nice spot to watch trains.. All the action a railfan could want.

[@Trains21]

And also, thanks for the kind words.

[@tjstrain1]

Thanks AC for this great vid. I do enjoy what you post, but this one I just loved. And the info you give is great !!!

[@Trains21]

Thanks TJ.. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@richardsmith6519]

Almost 24000 hp with those 5 units pulling the grade and throwing down that amount of sand to get up and over. unbeleaveable. that shows the tonnage moved and what it takes to get it from point A TO B. Another super vid by A C. THANK U A C. BEST OF THE BEST AND IT GETS NO BETTER THEN THIS.

[@Trains21]

Yeah, that train wouldn't have made it up Clark's Summit.. Would've needed at least 2 pushers.

[@TheNomadicRailfan]

Awesome video once again AC. Great job catching that sand train right at Steamtown. Those locomotives sounded awesome pulling the train up that grade. Great work man!

[@Trains21]

Thanks, Scott.. Yeah, those GEs impressed me as well.. I didn't realize that they could sound so good.

[@jayodonnell9838]

You keep raising the bar my friend for 2018. Outstanding sir!!

[@Trains21]

Thanks, Jay.. Much appreciated.

[@dannygayler90]

Most enjoyable , Thank You !

[@Trains21]

Thank you!! Danny!!

[@donstor1]

Another awesome video. Thanks.

[@Trains21]

No problem, Don.. Thank you.

[@roballen5670]

Great video. Keep them coming.

[@Trains21]

Thanks, Allen.

[@3StepTDC]

Awesome video!!! Keep up the good work!

[@Trains21]

Thanks Tyler!

[@99Duds]

where I live (central Texas) BNSF/UP are the mainstays. one day in early 2017 I got to see CN GE unit come though and best of all it was on point. great video

[@Trains21]

Thanks, Duds.. Yes, foreign power is always a treat, especially when foreign power is on the lead.

[@Mortu5]

Great video! Nice.

[@Trains21]

Thanks Man.

[@SantaFe19484]

Awesome video!

[@Trains21]

Thanks, Santa Fe!

[@SteelandSteamProductions]

i made it into taylor when the hopper was leaving, we rushed to the other side of the tunnel after steamtown and got a ice hornshow as it crossed the crossing it was great!!

[@Trains21]

I'm know it was something to see and hear!

[@daniellaubach7544]

Great video AC! Nice to c NS is runnin alot of tonnage on the Sunbury Line!

[@Trains21]

Yes they are!

[@grvolans]

Not so much anymore...lol

[@philliplee980]

awesome catches.

[@Trains21]

Thanks, Phil.

[@philliplee980]

your welcome

[@williamflowers7927]

Awesome

[@Trains21]

Thanks William.

[@jbrat4313]

The GE'S were epic... I turned up the volume wow! I did not realize that fracking was picking up so nicely... were some of the pics of the Grain trains abandoned? Great video.👏🏽

[@Trains21]

Thanks J.. No the hoppers weren't abandoned, just waiting for pickup.. And yes, fracking has picked up nicely.. Things were slow in 2016.

[@johndeere709]

I remember the bnsf sand train!!!!

[@Trains21]

Do you now!

[@davidbarnett9312]

Well, I'm watching this again because I don't cotton to 100 plus degree weather. As I watched, the train whistle alerted me to a west bound BNSF with empty open hoppers on the Lampasas sub to load up with aggregate. 3 BNSF leaders and 2 DPU's are on the EOT. Someday I might take up my own rail fan channel. Lord knows this Lampasas sub is hoppin' day and night.

[@Trains21]

I hope that you do.. Just make sure you let me know when you do so I can be your first subscriber!

[@silvergull]

G'day from OZ, would like to hear those GEs in Full Dynamic Brake

[@Trains21]

That would be nice.. Good day to you as well.

[@donavonrobbins1908]

Who needs brakes when half the train is still going uphill, while the other half is headed downhill. ;)

[@foxtrot7747]

Imagine the strain on the coupler on the rear locomotive on the 5-engine sand train

[@Trains21]

Indeed!

[@daniellaubach7544]

The stress & strain pullin that tonnage up the grade at Yatesville would be more than enough to snap couplers & stall the train.

[@railyardfilms6491]

PA is amazing

[@Trains21]

Thanks, Man.. Yes, PA is quite the state.. Especially for trains.

[@richkeeshan9757]

Just curious, do you know where the frack sand from PA ends up?

[@Trains21]

Frack sand doesn't originate in PA that I know of, it terminates here.. On the D-L it terminates in Carbondale.

[@soco13466]

Near Hawthorne, FL, there are sand mines, white sugar sand is the biggest thing around there. Maybe that's where the sand is from

[@PacificCoastRailfan]

The kids who painted their lame tags all over BNSF 4874 didn't understand the machine they were screwing with.

[@Trains21]

I agree.. That was tacky among other things.

[@donavonrobbins1908]

More tacky is that bnsf doesn't clean it off. I understand not cleaning the revinue cars off.

[@retiredinmoosic772]

Pub'd 01/19/2018. How old is this video? The trees are still green.

[@Trains21]

Summer 2017

[@grvolans]

How many trains are left? I think it's one through freight each way and the local. I liked CP more.

[@Trains21]

That's pretty much it.

[@bobernst8826]

Where does all that "frac sand" come from?

[@Trains21]

Colorado or Wisconsin I think.

[@richardsmith6519]

LOL, THE GROUND. THXS.

[@kevinrichards3288]

The sand express

[@Trains21]

Aw yeah!!

[@Trains21]

I was gonna title the video "Enter Sandman." But I knew it would cause copyright issues with the band Metallica.

[@kevinrichards3288]

+Trains21 lol

[@yardlimit8695]

can you give me some information what the sand has to do with the natural gas industry...thanks. anything would be appreciated

[@Trains21]

It's a little involved but if you do a search for "Fracking" and/or "Fracking sand" you should be able to get plenty of answers.

[@rickkilimun5430]

22:34 "I THINK I CAN, I THINK I CAN..."

[@Trains21]

He certainly can!

[@rickkilimun5430]

You've said trains have stalled out on that hill

[@jessegardner1013]

dont know if anybody noticed but 2 of those bnsf unit on the sand train were ac 4 axles the center axle on each truck is just a counter weight . they are the ones that look like they have a extra brake cylinder on the trucks

[@Trains21]

I that one was

[@richardsmith6519]

IVE never have knowed of any G E haveing dead weight axles. i hate to tell u this but theres noway bnsf or any other railroad would order locomotives that way. sry but u have lost it. lol stay out of the beer and wine and get a waker upper. C.O.F.F.E.E.

[@jessegardner1013]

@@richardsmith6519 hey man i run those units they use them as a high speed unit for stack train so beleive me I've run alot of them the center axle shits back and forth to adjust traction

[@3006USMC]

richard smith GE GEVO ES44c4- google it.

[@3006USMC]

Correction- ET44c4 BNSF is the only one who ordered them. I agree, doesnt make any sense.

[@dakotapicou]

22:34 well thats what they get for putting Molotov Cocktails on the head of anything with actual weight let alone on anything more than a 0.5% grade!

[@davebolyard6808]

Ì þhàñk I have subèd but how do I join thè chanel

[@gragor11]

Heavy trains beating the roadways to bits?

[@Trains21]

Nah.

[@davebolyard6808]

How do ì ßùb