Tieing Them Up

This morning I heard the Union Pacific local (the "Fernley Flyer") tell the dispatcher that they needed some time on the main line because they had some cars to switch into the "house track." That is unusual because the two house tracks (so called because they flank the site of the former Fernley depot; a "house track" or "freight house track" is track other than the main track near a depot or freight house used for storing or switching cars) are normally the preserve of BNSF, switched by a local train five days a week and used as the interchange point for traffic off the "Big BN" through freights. So despite the cold, when I heard the Flyer approaching, I went out to see what was going on.

( Spot the Bunny )

Disposal of used wooden ties is a serious and expensive issue for the railroads. I'm glad that this pile of ties is about to leave Fernley, for selfish reasons: it has been blocking our view of the main line!