[?]

BNSF's Red River Valley Subdivision extends from Amarillo approximately 215 miles southeast to Wichita Falls, but only about the first 100 miles east of Amarillo quailfy as "Panhandle country". Traffic on this line can be very hit-and-miss... some days it's very busy and other days are slow. Traffic consist mostly of Texas-to-west coast intermodal trains (including run-throughs from KCS' "Meridian Speedway") and coal traffic, with occasional movements of grain and mixed freight. US Hwy 287 is close to the tracks for most of the length of the line, especially between Amarillo and Estelline.

From Estelline to the east, traffic is controlled by CTC signalling. West of Estelline, trains operate on track warrant authority, except at each of the six sidings between Estelline and Amarillo, which are controlled by CTC.

Please click any of the following pictures to see a larger image:

	BNSF 8982, the distributed power unit on eastbound train C BKMDOL0 06, takes on fuel at Eastern (BNSF’s Amarillo fueling facility) on May 30, 2003. When fueling and servicing have been completed, the train will depart on the Red River Valley Subdivision toward Childress and Wichita Falls.
	An eastbound train on the Red River Valley Subdivision passes the Producers Grain elevator on the east side of Amarillo. The train's next stop will be at Childress for a crew change.
	ATSF C40-8W 904 leads an A-B-A set of power on westbound BNSF Z ALTLAC on the BNSF Red River Valley Subdivision east of Ashtola, Texas on October 29, 2000.
	BNSF coal trains meet at Hedley, Texas on the BNSF Red River Valley Subdivision on January 19, 2004. The distributed power unit of a westbound empty has just cleared the east siding switch, and BNSF 8931 leads an eastbound load about to depart.
	BNSF 8931 leads an eastbound coal load over the Red River bridge west of Estelline, Texas on January 19, 2004.
	BNSF 8931 leads an eastbound coal upgrade at Carey, Texas on January 19, 2004.

Return to Texas Panhandle - 2nd Section

BNSF Panhandle Sub   BNSF Hereford Sub BNSF Dalhart Sub   BNSF Boise City Sub UP Pratt Sub   Critters & Shorts

All images on the Southwest Railfan © 2000 - 2006 by Wes Carr.
All rights reserved.