BNSF 4333 in "Heritage II" paint pulls into Hobson Yard - March 3, 2001 - T. Greuter Photo

BNSF continues the Lincoln tradition began by predessors CB&Q and BN. Being the central hub of four major mainlines and the main coal corridor from Wyoming's Powder River, Lincoln's rail traffic is very busy. Lincoln is also home to the premier repair facilities of the BNSF's Havelock Shops, and Hobson Yard. Times for the BNSF are good - Hobson Yard, has been under consideration for expansion, though it has faced stiff opposition from the city.

BNSF in Lincoln
With over 70 freights passing through every 24 hours, Lincoln is one of BNSF's busiest terminals.ÊThe best places to catch some action is at the east and west entrances of Lincoln's Hobson Yard. Particularly heavy traffic is run on the Kansas City line (Hill St. Jct. is a favorite spot), and on the Omaha/Chicago line between Lincoln and Ashland (from which quite a few shots are included here).ÊMost common power used are the SD70MACs in coal service, though BN and Santa Fe Geeps and SDs can still be seen in grain and mixed-freight service every day.

Hobson Yard
Built in 1906 by the CB&Q and named after a local yard master, Hobson, measuring 3 miles long by a half-mile wide, handles all traffic coming off four major BNSF routes into Nebraska. It has a locomotive repair and maintenance facility, two main line fueling and servicing racks and a a yard for flat switching cars. Over the years, since the 1970 merger of GN/NP/SP&S/CB&Q, Burlington Northern expanded the former Chicago, Burlington & Quincy yard facilities to accommodate the influx of new coal traffic. The yard remains a major rail center today as part of the BNSF system.

Havelock Shops
Lincoln is also home to the BNSF's Havelock Shops, a car repair facility concentrating on repairing wrecked cars and rebuilding worn out ones.

Routes to Lincoln
The four major routes entering Lincoln are: the Ravenna Line (to Alliance, Nebraska), the Hastings Line (to Denver, Colorado), the Kansas City Line (to Kansas City, Missouri) and the Omaha Line (to Omaha, Nebraska and Chicago, Illinois). The Ravenna Line is the busiest of the four main lines that radiate from Lincoln, and the gateway to Wyoming coal fields.

Where to Watch
Soon after the Burlington Northern's merger with the Sante Fe, rail traffic has became very colorful... and a railfan paradise. Popular train-watching areas include: the eastern and western throats of Hobson Yard (which is always your best bet being the convergence of the four mainlines), the 17th Street entrance to the State Fairgrounds often has a west-bound train stopped for rail traffic ahead, the mainline double-track stretching along Cornhusker Highway to the Havelock Shops, and Lincoln Station in the Haymarket District downtown. Overhead views of the mainline can be seen from the 10th Street pedestrian overpass and a pedestrain walk along the "O" Street bridge. Further west over Hobson Yard, highway I-80 and BNSF's own overpass are not open to pedestrain traffic. A hill top view overlooking a curving KC Line at Hill Street Junction is a favorite photgraphy site (the Union Pacific's Lincoln-Beatrice line which paralleled the KC line here is now abandoned).

Burlington Northern Santa Fe operates one of the largest rail networks in North America, with 33,500 route miles covering 28 states and two Canadian provinces.

Below are images of the BNSF, mainly from the Omaha, Hastings, Kansas City and Revenna Lines in Nebraska - locomotives, equipment and some inside cab shots. Most photos were taken at Lincoln, Nebraska unless otherwise noted.

An example of "Heritage II" paint, worn here by BNSF #1100. Colors inspired by predecessor Great Northern

"Heritage II" paint on BNSF # 4333. This scheme harkens a bit more of the old Santa Fe.

Heritage I units are a bit less common. On these units the BNSF emblem applied to the nose is a perfectly round circle.

The later Heritage II scheme uses an emblem which is closer to the original nose ornamentation used by Santa Fe before the merger. These units are identified by an oblong emblem stretched horizontally across the unit's nose with bars on either side. The yellow striping was widened into bars (mirroring the bars of the nose emblem) while the yellow side sill stripes were dropped all together. In addition, the yellow is also outlined with black pinstripe edging, and the large "BNSF" on the long hood is likewise displayed in yellow (instead of the dark green of Heritage I).

BNSF GP60M #134 - in Portland, Oregon. - Steve Schuman Photo/Jay Glenewinkel Collection

BNSF 538 and UP 4556 - are open for business for a local rail safety and business expo at Lincoln, Nebraska. 9/01 - T. Greuter Photo

BNSF C44-9W #1008 - is seen at North Portland Junction, in Portland, Oregon in August 2000 - Steve Schuman Photo/Jay Glenewinkel Collection

BNSF 1066 - a Dash 9-44CW, SD40-2 BNSF 6986 in BN paint, and an unidentified EMD leased unit are parked beside #4820, also a Dash 9 at the fairgrounds. The two Dash 9's display the early and the newer "Santa Fe-ed" version of the BNSF nose emblem; Lincoln, Nebraska 4/01. - T. Greuter Photo

BNSF 1703 - the former BN 904, one of only four GP9b's on the system, assigned to the Havelock Shops, is still in it's old paint, but wearing a new name and number. Lincoln, Nebraska 3/01 - T. Greuter Photo

BNSF 2833 - with a MofW train stopped at the wye at East Ashland, NE 8/11/01 - T. Greuter Photo

BNSF 3136 - takes a long curve west of Ashland, Nebraska; 5/01 - T. Greuter Photo ·

BNSF 3502 - rolls out of Hobson Yard, Lincoln, Nebraska, 2002 - T. Greuter Photo ·

BNSF 3644 - an SW10; Lincoln, Nebraska 4/01 - T. Greuter Photo

BNSF 4412 - at Lincoln, Nebraska. 12/01 - T. Greuter Photo

BNSF 4702 - a Dash 9-44CW, in Sante Fe colors, followed by SD40u #6330 in pumpkin paint, and BN 2835(?), a modified GP 35 (aka GP39m), are greeted by an admiring railfan east of Hobson Yard; Lincoln, Nebraska 4/8/01 - T. Greuter Photo

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Related Galleries:
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