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14th Annual 24 Hours At Saginaw 2019 5/24-5/25/2019

I left the Days Inn, headed over to the parking lot for the Saginaw station, parked my rental car then went trackside.

Saginaw Chamber of Commerce Depot 301 S. Saginaw Blvd, Saginaw, Texas 76179

- Train watching begins, Sign in and log your time, make a donation, get a button
- Railroad videos, Safety Rules displayed, Door Prizes
- Pass the hat for Pizza
- Silent Auction
- RailStream Saginaw Cam - Go to https://railstream.net find "Stream of the Week"
- Local "24 Hours @ Saginaw" live stream at https://www.twitch.tv/Texes_xx_bnsf

7:00 pm - Event Begins/Silent Auction Begins/Official Train count begins
7:05 pm - Operation Lifesaver Presentation by Amtrak Conductor, Angie Hicks
8:00 pm - David Wiegand - from New Mexico - "Santa Fe, early Amtrak & Rock Island"
9:00 pm - DVD - Steve Goen - "Frisco 1522 - Steaming Southwest" through North Texas
10:00 pm - Chris Guenzler - from Southern California - "Trains in the Life of Chris Guenzler 2018 & NRHS Conventions I have been to"
11:00 pm - Elden Baker - "The Spark That Ignited the Town of Anna"
12:00 am - The Midnight Special - "4014 Big Boy Chase" Skip's recent chase videos

Train watching continues, More Railroad videos and silent auction
1:00 am - "Great Locomotive Race" Trivia Game - Skip Waters
2:00 am - DVD - TRAINS Magazine's "Journey to Promontory"
3:00 am - DVD - TRAINS Magazine's "The Golden Spike Route Today"
4:30 am - DVD - "Challenger 3985" - provided by Chris Tolley
5:00 - 9:00 am - North Texas T-Trak Model Railroad Club display
6:30 am - DVD - "BNSF Arizona Divide" - provided by Chris Tolley
9:00 am - DVD - "Tennessee Pass and the Royal Gorge Route" - by Chris Tolley
10:00 am - Ken Fitzgerald - LIVE Locomotive Horn Demonstration
11:00 am - Jerry Nunn - "Photos Around North Texas 2013-2016"
12:00 pm - "Let's Talk Trains" Radio Show - Live broadcast with host Skip Waters
1:00 pm - Willie Melendez - DVD - "Santa Fe Odyssey" Volume III
2:00 pm - Melinda G. West - from Shreveport - "Oh Yes They Did!"
3:00 pm - "Great Locomotive Race" Trivia Game - Sam Metzgar and James Dolande
4:00 pm - Steve Grabman - Pot Luck - an Oldie but Goodie show
5:00 pm - Sam Metzgar & James Dolande - Grapevine Railroad History Museum and Historic Conductor project. Plus the video: "Tarantula Express"
6:00 pm - Chris Guenzler - "Trains in the Life of Chris Guenzler 2010 & 2011" plus the Big Boy in Echo Canyon, NRHS Nose-to-Nose and Promontory Summit May 10, 2019 & NRHS/Silent Auction Ends
7:00 pm - Event Ends - Post Slide Show Auction Begins (if we have interest)
Programs subject to change without notice.

I walked over to the tracks, staying within the posted limits.

I caught the rear end of my first train.

BNSF 2030 was on a local train.

Amtrak 822, the Heartland Flyer, went north through Saginaw.

BNSF 4114 East with DPU 7395 came south afterwards.

BNSF 7335 West was following the Heartland Flyer north heading back to the Powder River Basin for another load of coal. I then checked into 24 Hours At Saginaw and gave $20 to help cover insurance for the event. I returned outside.

BNSF 6784 West, with CN 2990 and 2155 in its consist, heads north.

Union Pacific 4558 East came through Saginaw next.

Jim Choiniere with his two grandchildren, who were making their first visit to Saginaw. The two of us then caught up on things.

BNSF 6598 East came through our location and I went inside the station for the rest of my stay here today. The first program I saw was the Operation Lifesaver Presentation by Amtrak Conductor, Angie Hicks. The next program was by David Wiegand, from New Mexico, entitled "Santa Fe, early Amtrak & Rock Island", who did not have a slide projector so his was a narrated one but was really good.

David Wiegand giving his program. I was next, showing "Trains in the Life of Chris Guenzler 2018 & NRHS Conventions I hve been to" programs which both went over well. After that I returned to the Days Inn for the night.

5/25/2019 I awoke feeling rested and put the pictures into my computer then drove across the street to MacDonald's for Hot Cakes and sausage, I had to put petrol into the rental car and picked up three cans of Coca-Cola on my way to the Saginaw station.

I went inside the station for "BNSF Arizona Divide" which was provided by Chris Tolley, followed by Tennessee Pass and the Royal Gorge Route" which I enjoyed. Next was the Ken Fitzgerald with his live Locomotive Horn Demonstration.

BNSF 5011 East was my first train of the late morning.

The live locomotive horn Demonstration.

Union Pacific 8882 west came through next.

BNSF 6539 with Ferromex SD70ACe 4048 heading into grain siding.

BNSF 4633 West with Citirail ES44AC 1334 was next through Saginaw. I called Let's Talk Trains.

BNSF 6539 with Ferromex SD70ACe 4048 came back north by our location.

BNSF 5901 East with DPU 9798 and 9935. I ended my call then went inside for the ATCS program which was excellent.

Amtrak 821, Heartland Flyer, came through Saginaw.

BNSF 266 with SD75 261 and SD60 1423 came north through the interlocking.

BNSF 266 then came south through the interlocking. I then went to Arby's and picked up lunch and dinner before returning to the event. The program I came back to was Willie Melendez showing his DVD "Santa Fe Odyssey" Volume III and then Melinda G. West from Shreveport showing "Oh Yes They Did!"

Next was the "Great Locomotive Race" Trivia Game led by Sam Metzgar and James Dolande. I was the Santa Fe and took second and won a Railfans Chasing Trains DVD. After that it was back outside for trains.

BNSF 9230 East with BNSF 9639 in its consist.

Programs keep going during the events.

A light BNSF move came north but stopped at the signal.

Amtrak 822, the Heartland Flyer, came north through Saginaw.

Northbound BNSF 4721 was my last train to photograph at this event. I went inside and watched the end of the Tarantula Express video. Next was David Wiegand who showed his slides and they were really good. I then showed the final program of the event, "Trains in the Life of Chris Guenzler 2010 & 2011" as well as the Big Boy in Echo Canyon, NRHS Nose-to-Nose and Promontory Summit May 10, 2019. I thanked Skip for having me and returned to the Days Inn, checked my phone and learned that my flight home was cancelled. I took the information and arranged for a flight home with a layover in Houston. I was not happy not at least I would get home an hour later than planned. My new boarding pass was B34 and C27 and would have to try at the airport for something better. I called Carl Morrison to let him know the new arrival time then went to the front desk to ask for a 5:00 AM wakeup call before calling it a night.

5/26/2019 At 5:00 AM I showered and shaved then drove back to Love Field, returned the rental car then was bussed back to the airport. I went to the ticket counter and receied A4 after paying $30. That took me to Houston and we arrived there early, I went to the first Southwest person I saw at a gate and received A3 for $40. I enjoyed my flight which arrived early so I went outside and called Carl, who was in the cell phone waiting lot, and he picked me up and drove me home, ending a fantastic trip to Texas and 24 Hours At Saginaw.

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