[railguy]

Just a couple more from Blackfoot 3. Even on Class 1 railroads, some secondary mainlines and branches often are operated more like short line railroads. Here yet another local on the Blackfoot line is spotted on Blackfoot siding, waiting for the passage of a couple of long loaded westbound grain trains. The local crew has just set out some ballast loads on house track, and has put their train back together. After the passage of the grain trains, the local will go to Lloydminster, where the crew will have hours of switching to do at the ADM plant, refinery, and upgrader. Since the crew knows that they will be waiting at Blackfoot for at least a couple of more hours and it is noontime, they have moseyed over to the café across the street for lunch. As can happen during grain rush, the railroad is using some leased 4-axle power on the local today--two warhorses, a GP38 and a GP10.