Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 13 hours ago
Union Pacific and BNSF used to cross at a diamond here at Grand Island. Now BNSF uses a new flyover, getting traffic moving faster.
Until July, 1995, Burlington Northern and Union Pacific trains took turns using a diamond crossing where their lines intersect in Grand Island, Nebraska. Now, Burlington Northern Santa Fe trains climb up and over the UP triple-track main line to avoid the congestion of a crossing at grade. The elevated structure provides a spectacular setting for over-and-under railroad action.
In this video, Pentrex first follows the BNSF line from Cairo, Nebraska to Grand Island. A variety of motive power is seen, including brand new BNSF SD70MACs hauling coal, Kansas City Southern and EMD/Oakway SD60s, and BN SD60M 1991 in patriotic red, white and blue paint. The action then moves to the Union Pacific line east of Grand Island. Several Chicago & North Western GE locomotives make appearances on coal and doublestack trains, along with lots of UP power.
Back at Grand Island, the camera catches a rail grinder at work and a bright red pair of geeps pulls a Nebraska Central train off a branch line and pushes it into the yard.
Get better quality and a permanent addition to your collection with the DVD: pentrex.com/DVD-Grand-Island-DVD_GI-DVD
0:00 Intro, Map & Cairo, Nebraska
4:03 KCS leads an MT coal train
9:21 Parade of trains at McDonald
15:57 BN's Freedom Train scheme
21:32 4 trains, over & under
27:53 At Paddock, CNW & Conrail?
32:20 UP's Grand Island Yard
34:00 Loram rail grinder train
41:27 Nebraska Central grain train
Union Pacific and BNSF used to cross at a diamond here at Grand Island. Now BNSF uses a new flyover, getting traffic moving faster.
Until July, 1995, Burlington Northern and Union Pacific trains took turns using a diamond crossing where their lines intersect in Grand Island, Nebraska. Now, Burlington Northern Santa Fe trains climb up and over the UP triple-track main line to avoid the congestion of a crossing at grade. The elevated structure provides a spectacular setting for over-and-under railroad action.
In this video, Pentrex first follows the BNSF line from Cairo, Nebraska to Grand Island. A variety of motive power is seen, including brand new BNSF SD70MACs hauling coal, Kansas City Southern and EMD/Oakway SD60s, and BN SD60M 1991 in patriotic red, white and blue paint. The action then moves to the Union Pacific line east of Grand Island. Several Chicago & North Western GE locomotives make appearances on coal and doublestack trains, along with lots of UP power.
Back at Grand Island, the camera catches a rail grinder at work and a bright red pair of geeps pulls a Nebraska Central train off a branch line and pushes it into the yard.
Get better quality and a permanent addition to your collection with the DVD: pentrex.com/DVD-Grand-Island-DVD_GI-DVD
0:00 Intro, Map & Cairo, Nebraska
4:03 KCS leads an MT coal train
9:21 Parade of trains at McDonald
15:57 BN's Freedom Train scheme
21:32 4 trains, over & under
27:53 At Paddock, CNW & Conrail?
32:20 UP's Grand Island Yard
34:00 Loram rail grinder train
41:27 Nebraska Central grain train
