hnwob.htm
         
Mike Palmieri's LOUISIANA·RAIL·SITE

"WHERE THE EAST MEETS THE WEST IN THE SOUTH"

A · R I D E · O N · T H E · H-NWOBAR-1-26A
P A G E   T W O   --   T H E   H U E Y   P .   L O N G   B R I D G E
   

The 934 is smokin' it up as it digs in for the Huey P. Long Bridge's 1.25% grade. The locomotives are passing the bridge gang working on the westbound track. Notice the portable toilet on one of the work cars! There's no place else to go up here.
   

SMOKIN' IT UP AGAIN
   

The 934 displays its sensational Superfleet paint scheme. It is one of 152 C40-8W's built for the Santa Fe between October 1992 and October 1993. These units will retain their original numbers on the BNSF, but their Superfleet paint scheme will be replaced with orange-and-green.
   

SUPERFLEET 934
   
The 960 is the lowest numbered of the C44-9W's delivered to the BNSF in the railroad's original Heritage paint scheme. There were 164 units in this group, built between July 1996 and January 1997. They are numbered 960-1123, right behind Santa Fe C40-8W's 800-951.
   

BNSF HERITAGE UNIT
   

This photo was taken at almost the same moment as the one above and gives a conductor's view of the bridge's east approach. The structure is owned by the New Orleans Public Belt, as is the industrial siding at ground level on the left.

   
CLIMBING THE HUEY P. LONG BRIDGE
   
Approaching the superstructure of the bridge, the crest of the grade is visible up ahead. The bridge was designed to provide 135 feet of vertical clearance above the Mississippi River's average high-water line.
   
THE VIEW AT THE TOP
   
Viewed from the rear door of Santa Fe 934, H-NWOBAR-1-26A rolls through the "high curve" on the bridge's west approach. The bridge is 4.4 miles long, from abutment to abutment, and was dedicated on 16 December 1935.
   
ON THE WAY DOWN

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