Track maintenance on the mainlines through Broken Bow, Nebraska, have caused two eastbound trains to hold in Merna, a few miles to the west. First to arrive was BNSF loaded unit coal train C-EBMMHS-065A (heading from Eagle Butte Mine at Eagle Butte Junction WY to Norfolk Southern in Memphis TN), with SD70ACes 9327 and 8537 on the headend (and two more, 8406 and 8594, as the rear Distributed Power Units). Not long after, BNSF high priority freight train H-CASLIN9-15A (Casper WY to Lincoln NE), behind more SD70ACe locomotives, in this case 9075 and 8785, pulled up on the other main and stopped as well. The coal train will begin moving again in 30 minutes, followed by the merchandise train, once the MOW crews break for lunch. In the afternoon, Broken Bow would see a powerful storm hit the area, including a brief EF-1 tornado here in Merna, which was in contact with the ground for less than two seconds but was powerful enough to toss an 800-pound trailer into the far front quarter panel of an adjacent car. The thunderstorm produced several down bursts, which stripped crops to stubble and toppled many trees, as well as snapping or toppling numerous power poles. (Merna, Nebraska – July 16, 2024)
