Rapid City Pierre & Eastern: More PRC Sub Action June 5-6, 2025

After riding the 1880 Train midday on June 5, 2025, we drove out towards Wall knowing that the MRCHU left Box Elder a few hours prior and that it should be meeting an MHURC at Wall. When we got to Wall, the MHURC was spotting some grain cars to DMG (Dakota Mill & Grain) in Wall before proceeding down Wall Hill. Since the MHURC was into Wall a little earlier than the one back on Tuesday, we were able to chase this MHURC further west than two days prior.

RCPE MHURC (Huron, SD-Rapid City, SD):
RCPE 3462 SD40-2 (ex RCPE 6452, exx ICE, exxx GECX 756, nee BCOL)
RCPE 3480 SD40-3 (ex DME 6054, nee UP 3100 SD40)
RCPE 3430 SD40-2 (ex RCPE 6448, exx ICE 6448, exxx UP B3534, nee UP 3534)

The next morning (Friday June 6), RCPE sent out an MRCHU straight out of Rapid City with the same locomotive consist as the MHURC from the previous day, and we would follow them east to Wall, where they met its counterpart at ESS Wall.

RCPE MRCHU (Rapid City, SD-Huron, SD):
RCPE 3430 SD40-2 (ex RCPE 6448, exx ICE 6448, exxx UP B3534, nee UP 3534)
RCPE 3480 SD40-3 (ex DME 6054, nee UP 3100 SD40)
RCPE 3462 SD40-2 (ex RCPE 6452, exx ICE, exxx GECX 756, nee BCOL)

Once the MRCHU made it to Wall, we heard the MHURC call out that they were approaching Quinn, so we would set up at the ESS Wall before continuing our drive towards Pierre for the evening.

RCPE MHURC (Huron, SD-Rapid City, SD):
RCPE 3447 SD40-2 (ex RCPE 6454, exx ICE, exx UP 3912, exxxx MP 6012, nee MP 3228)
RCPE 3435 SD40-2 (ex RCPE 6433, exx ICE, nee UP 3659)
RCPE 3457 SD40-2 (ex RCPE 6408, exx ICE, nee UP 3503)

This happened to be the same SD40-2 trio we would see back on Monday, June 2 leading the MRCHU that was involved in a derailment west of Quinn.

0:00 MHURC pulls out of DMG in Wall light power after spotting cars there.
1:15 Starts descending Wall Hill from Wall.
3:12 MHURC descending Wall Hill.
6:16 Crossing the Cheyenne River.
7:43 Approaching Wasta.
8:54 MHURC rolling through Wasta.
10:09 MHURC west of Wasta while still running on 10 MPH jointed rail.
12:15 MHURC through Owanka.
13:48 MHURC passing New Underwood.
14:38 We would call off the chase of MHURC at 156th Ave between New Underwood and Box Elder.
16:09 We would start the chase of MRCHU at New York St in Rapid City
17:18 MRCHU heads under the Elk Vale Rd overpass on the outskirts of Rapid City.
18:17 MRCHU at 151st St east of Box Elder.
19:07 MRCHU through New Underwood.
20:48 MRCHU passing Owanka.
22:33 MRCHU west of Wasta, now in the 10 MPH jointed rail.
24:58 Starting the climb of Wall Hill after crossing the Cheyenne River.
26:49 MRCHU climbing Wall Hill, while alongside I-90.
29:30 MRCHU closing in on Wall as it nears the top of Wall Hill.
33:55 MHURC coming up on the ESS Wall inside Wall yard limits where it will take the siding and go around the MRCHU.