As with many railroads recently, BNSF Railway often combines two trains into one. This is an example of that, as BNSF ES44DC 7531, BNSF ES44C4 7031, CSXT ES44AC 3206 and BNSF ES44C4 7924 are leading train U-WATWWO7-31A (Unit Train; Watson CA to Wentworth SD). But note that all the cars are intermodal cars, and intermodal trains are not considered unit trains. And, intermodal to South Dakota? Roughly halfway into this 181-car, 12,928-foot train are two more BNSF diesels, ES44C4 6706 and ET44C4 3766, followed by 94 empty ethanol tank cars. The intermodal train was combined with an empty ethanol unit train to save paying another crew, and at some point the 87-car intermodal train will be separated and continue on to a completely different destination. (Placentia, California – February 1, 2022)
