Timing is everything, Part 2: Amtrak P32 on the point of the Empire Builder

A rare catch, Amtrak P32-8 No. 503 leads the Empire Builder into Milwaukee on April 18, 2015. Jim Wrinn photo.

MILWAUKEE -- Recently I wrote about my fortunate timing at the flyover in Grand Island, Neb., when BNSF Railway and Union Pacific unit coal trains came into the same photo at the same time. Happily, I had good timing again last weekend with the appearance of a rare P32-8 on the point of Amtrak’s Empire Builder.

Here’s how it happened. On Saturday, I was at work, preparing stories for our two special issues this summer, Heavy Hauls, and 611 in Steam. That morning, I got an email from my friend and long-time Trains correspondent Steve Glischinski saying that No. 503 was leading the eastbound Builder. The locomotive was one of 20 such units ordered in 1991 and one of 18 left on the roster; they usually are used in switching duty at major terminals, so catching it on the main line was a feat. The day was sunny, and I thought that might be a good diversion for later in the day.

As the day progressed, I got busy copyfitting stories and writing text that I forgot about No. 503 on the Builder. I went home and sometime in the early afternoon, the train popped back into my mind. I checked Amtrak’s Website, and No. 8 was an hour and a half late. It was set to arrive in Milwaukee in about 20 minutes. If I was going to catch No. 503 leading the train, I had to go. Now.

So, I grabbed my backpack with camera inside, rushed out the door, and jumped in my car. My first inclination was to head trackside to the nearest spot, but as I made my way I decided to go to the one place where the train would be nose lit in the afternoon: Grand Avenue – a local favorite S-curve with the Miller brewery in the background. So I changed course, drove to the spot, parked the car in one of the outer lots for the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team and scampered across a guard rail into an open hillside overlooking the tracks. I knew the train had to be close. As I walked up, I heard the familiar rumbling of locomotives coming, and saw the consist rounding a curve. I raised my camera, and took a few shots. No. 503, P42 No. 93, and train slid around the curve and out of sight. I walked back to the car, thinking to myself that yes, once again, timing is everything.