BNSF's Orin Subdivision was unusually quiet at Reno Junction on this late-spring evening as a BNSF helper set idled away on the setout track. However, there was a good reason for the lack of activity: The roadmaster held a Form B to protect the assembly of the conveyor for Black Thunder Mine's new west loadout. The towering Lampson Transi-Lift in the background had only minutes before finished setting set the second segment of the conveyor onto its support towers and remained attached while the steel workers made sufficient connections for the structure to stand on its own; while this was going on both the dispatcher and chief dispatcher called up the roadmaster questioning when he would release the Form B, which he would not do until the structure was stable and it was safe to resume train movement. Tragically, less than two weeks after I took this photo the Transi-Lift would collapse while lifting the third conveyor segment into place, injuring three workers at the site.
